In Port Blair, the king and queen of the Onge tribe, Totoko and Priya, welcomed a baby boy on Monday at GB Panth Hospital, increasing the tribe's total population to 136. The newborn, weighing approximately 2.5 kg, arrived at 5:55 pm through a normal delivery, marking Totoko's eighth child. Union Tribal Minister Arjun Munda expressed delight, congratulating Totoko and Priya while ensuring the local administration provides proper care for the mother and child.
Munda also emphasized efforts to safeguard Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the region through central schemes. Hospital sources confirmed the well-being of both mother and child, stating they will be discharged from the tribal ward in a day or two. The Onge tribe, located in Dugong Creek, celebrated the birth of the baby boy, highlighting their transition from a semi-nomadic, hunting, and gathering lifestyle to receiving support such as rations and clothing from the local administration.
Despite initial resistance to wearing clothes, the community now embraces this assistance. Since the establishment of the British penal settlement in 1858, primitive tribes like the Onge, Jarawa, Shompen, Great Andamanese, and Sentinelese have faced significant population declines due to factors such as epidemics, exploitation for alcohol, and conflicts with the British.