Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a Union Territory of India. It is situated between 6° and 14° North Latitude and 92° and 94° East Longitude. It has an area of 8,249 sq kms. Its capital city is Port Blair. Principal Languages spoken in this territory are Hindi, Nicobarese, Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu. Andaman Wood Pigeon is the state bird, Dugong is state animal, and Andaman Padauk is state animal of this UT.

Population of this UT was 356,152 as per census of 2001 and 380581 as per census of 2011. The decadal growth rate of the population has decreased from 26.90 per cent in 1991-2001 to 6.90 per cent in 2001-2011. The declining growth rate of population had also been observed during 1981-1991 and 1991-2001. The decreasing growth rate was worst in the Nicobar district at -12.4 during 2001-2011. The density of population in the UT as per census 2011 was 46 person per sq km as against 43 in 2001. As per Census 2011 the sex ratio of the total population of the union territory is 876 which shows an increasing trend from 846 recorded in 2001 census and 818 in 1991 census. The literacy rate has increased from 81.30 in Census 2001 to 86.63 in Census 2011. The work participation rate in the union territory has increased from 38.26 in 2001 to 40.08 in 2011 Census. In Census 2011 the male work participation rate is 3.35 times the female work participation rate. Male participation rate in 2011 was 59.59, and female participation rate was 17.81. Hindu population as per Census 2011 was 69.45 per cent, while Muslims were 8.52, Christians were 21.28, Sikhs were 0.34, Buddhists were 0.09, Jains were 0.01 and Others were 0.15 per cent. A total of 0.18 per cent people had stated no religion.

As per Census 2011 total Scheduled tribe population of this Union territory is 28,530 comprising of Andamanese 44 (18 males & 26 females), Jarawas 380 (194 males & 186 females), Onges 101 (52 males & 49 females), Sentinelese 15 (12 males & 3 females), Shompens 229 (141 males & 88 females) and Nicobarese 27,168 (14,011 males & 13,157 females). The Scheduled tribe population constitutes 7.5 percent of the total population of this Union territory. The Nicobar district accounts for the highest percentage (64.3 percent) of scheduled tribe population. Scheduled Tribe population growth rate in the UT is declining steadily. The decadal growth rate of total scheduled tribe population during 1971-81 was 23.53 percent which was a decline from 28.18 percent recorded in 1961-71. It further declined to 19.72 percent recorded in 1981-91. During 1991-2001 the ST growth is found to be 10.08 percent. First time a negative growth of -3.19 percent is observed in the decade 2001-2011 although the total population of the UT has recorded a 6.90 percent growth in the same decade.

The group of 572 islands/ Islets lies in the Bay of Bengal, 193 km from Cape Negaris in Burma (Myanmar), 1,255 km from Kolkata and 1,190 km from Chennai. Two principal groups of islets are Ritchie's Archipelago and Labyrinth Islands. The Nicobar Islands are situated to the south of Andamans, 121 km from Little Andaman Island. There are 38 inhabited islands, including 25 in the Andaman district and 13 in the Nicobar district. The original inhabitants of the islands lived in the forests on hunting and fishing. There are four Negrito tribes, viz., the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa and Sentinalese in the Andaman group of islands, and two Mongoloid tribes, viz., Nicobarese and Shompens in the Nicobar group of islands. Sentinalese are still hostile, keeping a separate entity, and have not yet learnt the concept of covering their bodies.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have great maritime importance. During the British period political leaders considered dangerous to the interests of the Raj and other dreaded criminals were deported from mainland to the Cellular Jail- the Indian Bastille, situated on the sea coast of Atlanta Point in the North-Eastern part of Port Blair. Thus these islands were infamously known as the 'Black Water Prison' or 'Kala Pani'.

The picturesque Islands, big and small, inhabited and uninhabited, islands, islets and rocks lying in the South Eastern Part of the Bay of Bengal.They lie along an arc in long and narrow broken chain, approximately North-South over a distance nearly 800 kms. . It is logical to presume a former land connection form Cape Negris at South part of Burma to Achin Head (Cape Pedro) in Andalas (Sumatra). The flora and fauna of these islands, however, indicate that this land connection if it existed, should have been prior to the development of their present life form.

Administrative Units
As per Census 2011, there are 3 districts, 6 subdivisions, and 9 tehsils, and 9 C D Blocks in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. There were Statutory Town -1, Census Town - 2, Lok Sabha Seat- 1, Municipal Council-1, Municipal Ward -18, Gram Panchayat- 69, Panchayat Samiti- 7 and Zilla Parishad -2

Census 2011 Highlights

· There is a decreasing trend in the growth rate of population in this UT since 1951-61. The overall growth rate has declined from 26.90 percent during 1991-2001 to 6.86 percent in the decade 2001-2011. The rural growth rate is remarkably low at -1.19 percent as compared to urban growth rate of 23.49 percent in the last decade.
· The Rural-Urban gap in this UT has decreased in the last decade. The proportion of rural population has decreased from 67.37 percent in 2001 to 62.30 percent in 2011. The proportion of urban population has increased from 32.63 percent in 2001 to 37.70 percent in 2011.
· The decadal growth of Schedule Tribe Population is following a decreasing trend since 1971. For the first time a growth of -3.19% in the ST population has been recorded in this UT during the decade 2001-2011.
· The sex ratio has improved after each Census since 1961. During the decade 2001-2011 the sex ratio has increased by 30 points to 876 in this UT. The sex ratio in South Andaman district is 871, North & Middle Andaman district it is 925 and Nicobar district it is 777.
· The proportion of Child population in this UT has decreased from 12.60 percent in 2001 to 10.74 percent in 2011. The proportions of Child population in Rural and Urban areas have also decreased from 13.10 percent in 2001 to 11.14 percent in 2011 and 11.50 percent in 2001 to 10.08 percent in 2011, respectively.
· Compared to all India literacy rate of73.0 per cent, the literacy rate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is far better at 86.63 per cent. In Census 2011, the Male-Female literacy gap is 7.84, which is reducing with each Census.
· The work participation rate of this UT is 40.08 percent. According to Census 2011 data, 83.56 percent of total workers of this UT are engaged as ‘Other Workers’. As per definition, all those workers who are not cultivators or agricultural labourers or household industry workers are termed as ‘Other Workers’.
· In South Andaman district 12,399 households (21.7 per cent), in North & Middle Andaman district 13,623 households (51.7 per cent) and in Nicobar district 1,904 households (19.1per cent) do not have any type of latrine in their houses.
· In South Andaman district 18.1 per cent households, in North & Middle Andaman district 62.1 per cent households and in Nicobar district 49.2 per cent households use firewood for cooking.
· Banking facility is available to 88.8 per cent households of South Andaman district, 89.6 per cent households of North & Middle Andaman district and 91.2 per cent households of Nicobar district.
· Telephone/Mobile Phone are available to 91.1 per cent households of South Andaman district, 73.7 per cent households of North & Middle Andaman district and 67.0 per cent households of Nicobar district.

History

The modern history of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands begins with the establishment of a settlement by East India Company in 1789. However, in 1796 this settlement was abandoned. Following the first war of Indian Independence in 1857, the British India Government founded the penal settlement in these islands in 1858, primarily known as Kalapani, for the deportation of freedom fighters from the mainland India, which continued till the second World War during the Second World War, the Japanese forces occupied the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 1942. Further, following the surrender of the Japanese forces in the Second World War, the British India Government reoccupied these islands in 1945 and continued their administration till the Independence of the country in 1947.

Districts

There are three districts in this UT - North and Middle Andaman District, South Andaman District, and Nicobar District.

Politics

Parliamentary Constituencies
1 Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lok Sabha Constituency

Places of interest

Andaman and Nicobar Islands were once dreaded islands but now are in the World Tourism Map. The natural beauty has made it a dreamland for tourists. It has exquisite beaches, unpolluted environment, and dense tropical forests. There are 9 National Parks and 96 Wildlife Sanctuaries in Andaman &Nicobar Islands. There is only one Biosphere Reserve in Andaman and Nicobar Islands viz, the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, having an area of 1044 square Kilometers. The important parks and wildlife sanctuaries are :

Campbell Bay National Park, Galathea Bay National Park, Mahatama Gandhi Marine Wandoor National Park, Middle Button Island National Park, Mount Harriett National Park, North Button Island National Park, Rani Jhansi Marine National Park, Saddle Peak National Park, South Button Island National Park

The wildlife sanctuaries are - Arial Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Bamboo Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Barren Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Battimalv Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Belle Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Benett Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Bingham Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Blister Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Bluff Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Bondoville Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Brush Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Buchanan Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Chanel Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Cinque Islands Wildlife Sanctuary, Clyde Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Cone Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Curlew B.P. Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Curlew Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Cuthbert Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Defence Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Dot Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Dottrell Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Duncan Island Wildlife Sanctuary, East Island Wildlife Sanctuary, East of Inglis Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Egg Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Elat Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Entrance Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Gander Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Girjan Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Goose Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Hump Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Interview Island Wildlife Sanctuary, James Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Jungle Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Kwangtung Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Kyd Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Landfall Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Latouche Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Lohabarrack Saltwater Crocodile Wildlife Sanctuary, Mangrove Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Mask Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Mayo Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Megapode Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Montogemery Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Narcondam Island Wildlife Sanctuary, North Brother Island Wildlife Sanctuary, North Island Wildlife Sanctuary, North Reef Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Oliver Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Orchid Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Ox Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Oyster Island‑I Wildlife Sanctuary, Oyster Island‑II Wildlife Sanctuary, Paget Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Parkinson Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Passage Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Patric Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Peacock Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Pitman Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Point Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Potanma Islands Wildlife Sanctuary, Ranger Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Reef Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Roper Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Ross Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Rowe Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Sandy Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Sea Serpent Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Shark Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Shearme Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Sir Hugh Rose Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Sisters Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Snake Island‑I Wildlife Sanctuary, Snake Island‑II Wildlife Sanctuary, South Brother Island Wildlife Sanctuary, South Reef Island Wildlife Sanctuary, South Sentinel Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Spike Island‑I Wildlife Sanctuary, Spike Island‑II Wildlife Sanctuary, Stoat Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Surat Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Swamp Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Table Delgarno Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Table Excelsior Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Talabaicha Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Temple Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Tillongchang Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Tree Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Trilby Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Tuft Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary, West Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Wharf Island Wildlife Sanctuary, and White Cliff Island Wildlife Sanctuary.

There are also many other places worth visiting which include Cellural Jail, Anthropological Museum, Fisheries Museum, Naval Marine Museum, Science Centre, Cottage Industries Museum, Mount Harriet, Chatham Saw Mill, Zoological Garden, Sippighat Farm, Dilthaman Tank, Chidiya Tapu, Wandoor Beach, Jolly Buoy, Red Skin, Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Viper Island, North Bay Beach, Carbyn's Cove, Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex, Marina Park, Gandhi Park, Jogger's Park, Cinque Island, Ross Island, Havelock, Radhanagar Beach, Neil Islands, and Little Andaman Island in South Anadaman District.

In the North and Middle Andaman district, the places worth visiting are Rangat, Mayabunder, Diglipur, Ross & Smith Islands, Saddle Peak, Long Island, North Passage Island and Baratang Island.

While domestic tourists can visit any part of Andaman and Nicobar Islands except restricted areas, foreigners are allowed to visit only these areas with prior permission:

For visiting including night halt –
1. Port Blair city 2. Havelock 3. Long Island 4. Mayabunder 5. Diglipur 6. Rangat 7. Neil Island 8. Baratang Islands and 9. North Passage Island.

For day visit – 1. Jolly Buoy 2. Red Skin 3. South Cinque Island 4. Mount Harriet 5. Madhuban 6. Ross Island 7. Narcondam Island 8. Interview Island 9. Brother Island 10. Sister Island and 11. Barren Island