the uncertainty regarding the fate of the Jarawas, the endangered tribe living in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has increased. During a recent meeting, the concerned authorities failed to evolve a consensus on the closure of certain parts of Andaman Trunk Road (atr), which cuts through the Jarawa Reserve.

The meeting, a seminar-cum-workshop organised by the Union ministry of tribal affairs and the union territory's (ut) administration, took place at Port Blair on May 27 and May 28. It was meant to finalise recommendations for formulating a policy for the welfare of the tribe. The seminar was a follow-up of an earlier meet held in Kolkata in April 2004 (see: