Rapid Fire
Shompen Cast their First Vote
- 02 May 2024
- 1 min read
For the first time 7 members of the Shompen tribe, one of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in the Great Nicobar Island cast their votes in the Andaman and Nicobar Lok Sabha constituency.
- They are highly isolated, semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers. The estimated population of the Shompen tribe was 229 as per the 2011 Census data.
- They are known for their distinctive unique language, consisting of various dialects understood only within specific bands.
- The tribe's social structure is patriarchal, with the eldest male member overseeing family affairs. While monogamy is common, polygamy is also permissible.
- Five PVTGs are residing in Andamans archipelago are Great Andamanese, Jarwas, Onges, Shompens and North Sentinelese.
- PVTGs were originally labelled as Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) by the Dhebar Commission in 1973, later renamed PVTGs by the Government of India in 2006.
