[Answered] Critically examine the impact of development projects on the indigenous communities of Great Nicobar Island. How can sustainable development be ensured while safeguarding their rights and ecological balance?

The Great Nicobar megaproject, with an investment of over ₹81,800 crore, aims to transform the island into a global trade and business hub. However, this ambitious plan comes at a significant cost to the Shompen and Nicobarese, two indigenous communities whose existence is deeply tied to the island’s ecosystem.

Impact of the Megaproject on Indigenous Communities

• Displacement and Loss of Ancestral Lands: The post-2004 tsunami relief measures relocated many Nicobarese to government camps, making them vulnerable to land appropriation for the megaproject.
• Cultural Erosion and Loss of Traditional Livelihoods: The Nicobarese were once a self-sustaining community, relying on hunting, fishing, and horticulture. Forced displacement has made them dependent on government aid and wage labor, eroding their traditional economic systems.
• Environmental Destruction in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: The government has denotified wildlife sanctuaries to facilitate the project, raising concerns about irreversible ecological damage. The Indigenous communities, who have long practiced sustainable conservation, were excluded from decision-making on environmental policies.

Ensuring Sustainable Development While Protecting Indigenous Rights

• Upholding Legal and Constitutional Safeguards: Strengthen the Forest Rights Act, 2006, ensuring free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) before acquiring indigenous lands. Recognize Shompen and Nicobarese as stakeholders in ecological governance, granting them decision-making power in environmental clearances.
• Alternative Development Models: Prioritize eco-tourism, agroforestry, and indigenous-led conservation projects that create economic opportunities without destroying cultural and ecological heritage. Invest in community-driven micro-enterprises instead of large-scale infrastructure projects that disrupt local ways of life.
• Conduct Independent Environmental and Social Impact Assessments: Establish independent environmental watchdogs to assess biodiversity loss, deforestation, and marine pollution caused by the project. Implement mitigation strategies that involve local participation in conservation efforts.
• Restoring Indigenous Autonomy and Self-Sufficiency: Provide land restitution to Nicobarese communities, allowing them to return to their ancestral lands rather than remain in government resettlement camps. Rebuild traditional food security and resource management systems, reducing dependence on government aid.

Conclusion

The Great Nicobar megaproject represents a clash between development and indigenous rights, where progress is framed in terms of infrastructure rather than cultural preservation and ecological balance. Sustainable development should not come at the cost of displacement, forced dependency, and environmental destruction. A participatory approach—one that respects Indigenous knowledge, safeguards biodiversity and prioritizes alternative economic models—is essential to ensure that development does not become a tool of marginalization.