Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 09 September 2025
The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs is considering the use of non-invasive thermal imaging technology to estimate the population of the Sentinelese tribe on North Sentinel Island during the upcoming Census. National media outlets recently reported that the plan is aimed at ensuring there is no direct contact with the community, which has consistently resisted any form of outside presence and contact.
The proposed approach would involve the use of thermal sensors from a safe distance to detect human presence, avoiding visual observation or ground-level interaction.
The Sentinelese are among the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups of the islands, believed to have lived in isolation for tens of thousands of years. Their immunity levels are extremely low, making even common infections potentially fatal. To safeguard them, authorities strictly enforce buffer zones around North Sentinel Island.
The community is protected under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956, which prohibits entry into designated tribal reserves, along with the Foreigner (Restricted Area) Orders, 1963. These legal protections are designed to preserve their autonomy and prevent exposure to health risks.
According to reports, the use of thermal imaging would not mark a shift in policy but rather a technology-enabled adaptation of existing measures.
