Onge Tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Onge Tribe is an indigenous community living in Little Andaman Island, known for their traditional lifestyle, hunting and gathering practices, and unique cultural heritage.

Context: For the first time, children from the Onge tribe in Little Andaman have successfully cleared the Class 10 exam.

About the Onge Tribe

The Onge are a specially vulnerable Negrito tribal community from Little Andaman Island, characterised by their hunter-gatherer ways, indigenous animist religion, shell and clay craft, and unique cultural identity. They live in an endangered population, which is sustained by government-initiated welfare, education, and livelihood activities such as the Van Dhan Vikas Kendra.

Belonging to the Negrito racial stock.
Habitat: They inhabit Little Andaman Island.
Lifestyle: Traditionally semi-nomadic, the Onges depend entirely on nature for food, such as hunting and gathering.

Religion

Follow simple animism.
No ceremonial worship or propitiation practices.
Believe in various spirits—of the woods, sea, disease, storms, and ancestors.

Language

The Onge people speak their own language, which has no written script.

Cultural Traits

White teeth are seen as a symbol of death.
To avoid this, they chew bark to redden their teeth.
Decorate their bodies and faces with white and ochre clay, especially during special occasions.

Government Resettlement

Currently live in a reserved area in Dugong Creek, a small part of their original territory.

Recently in News

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration recently established a Van Dhan Vikas Kendra for the Onge tribe at Dugong Creek under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan to promote self-sustainability through coconut-based products.