A first: Members of Shompen tribe vote in Andamans

Port Blair, April 19

For the first time in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, seven members of the Shompen tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTGs) of Great Nicobar Islands, exercised their voting right for the lone LS seat in the Union Territory on Friday, sources said.

Not only Shompen tribe members exercised their voting rights at polling station 411 named as “Shompen Hut” built inside the forest staff quarters, but they also posed for selfies at a designated cut-out made by the Election Commission of India, which reads – “I vote for sure”. The Shompen were assisted in their language by an interpreter known as “Mathiyas” (a Nicobari tribal youth).

Chief Electoral Officer B S Jaglan said, “This is for the first time a total of seven members of Shompen tribe exercised their voting rights. Earlier, we have given them training about EVMs and VVPATs through a trainer. It’s good to see that they came out of the jungle and voted for the first time.”