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The Post
Independence Regime
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands
together with the rest of India, became Independent on August 15th,
1947. The Bengalis are the major population group which came to the
Andamans after Independence. They came as 'settlers' under the Government
rehabilitaion scheme, whcih started as early as 1949 and continued
till the 1970s. All these groups migrated to the Andamans from different
districts of East Pakistan ( now Bangladesh). The Bengalis are primarily
distributed in the different villages of North, Middle and South Andamans.
The rehabilitated settlers of Great Nicobar are the Ex-servicemen.
Ex-servicemen were rehabilated according to the rules of the District
Soldier, Sailor, Airmen Board, formerly known as the Ex-servemen Association
and the Indian Ex-servicemen League. The first batch of Ex-servicemen
came to the island in 1969. Others, from different parts of the mainland
followed in 1970,1974,1977,1979 and 1980. These settlers include among
others, Punjabis, Marathis, Malyalis and Tamilians. New rules and
legislation were enacted and a Chief Commissioner directly nominated
by the President of India headed the islands. On November 12, 1982,
the post of Chief Commissioner was elevated to the rank of Lt. Governor.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands now send one elected representative
to the Lok Sabha. |
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