Probe ordered into alleged exploitation of Jarawa tribals

Jan 11, 2012 |

New Delhi

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Government has ordered an inquiry by the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) of Andaman & Nicobar Islands into a video footage showing semi-naked Jarawa tribal women allegedly being ordered to dance before tourists in return for food.

"Inquiry has been ordered (into the episode) and it is being headed by the Chief Secretary and DGP of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. They have been reporting to the Home Ministry and they are in contact with the Tribal Affairs Ministry as well," Union Tribal Affairs Minister V. Kishore Chandra Deo told PTI here.

Maintaining that 'stringent action' will be taken against the people behind the episode, Deo termed the incident as 'deplorable', and said, "Administration is making efforts to locate the people. I am told that they have been able to find out who the videographer was."

"We are trying to get the video clipping and the Home Ministry will refer it for technical examination to ensure how old it is," the Tribal Affairs Minister said.

He said the time of the incident is yet to be ascertained and it did not occur in the recent past.

"This video-clipping, it is not fresh and not of recent time. Apparently, people have seen it on the internet for last four or five years. So that is yet to be established. But the fact is that it is not something which has happened in last few weeks or months," he said.

Condemning the tourism which was being promoted in the name of Jarawa tribes, he said, "Its deplorable. You can not treat human beings like beasts for the sake of money. Whatever kind of tourism is that, I totally disapprove of that and it is being banned also."

Tourism does not mean exploiting poor people and projecting them like beasts, Deo said.

He said various steps were being taken to ensure safety and dignity of Jarawa tribes and photography and videography has been banned in the area.

"Photography and videography is banned in these areas and security is there to ensure that the Jarawa population is not disturbed...Strict vigil is kept to ensure that they are not misused by the people," he said.

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