Measures adopted to protect Jarawa tribals in Andamans

New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Minister of State for Home Affairs Jitendra Singh said here today that the Andaman and Nicobar administration has taken measures to check exploitation of Jarawa tribes residing the islands.

He disclosed in the Lok Sabha that following a series of reports which had been broadcast on television news channels on how tourists and local administration employee colluded to exploit the ethnic tribes of the island, necessary action has been taken against the culprits.

Singh informed that on the basis of the video footage, an FIR has been filed by Andaman and Nicobar administration under various sections of IPC and after interrogation two persons were arrested and sent to judicial remand.

In connection with another video, a case has been registered and a police constable has been arrested and placed under suspension for dereliction in the discharge of his duties.

Elaborating further on the measures taken to prevent such incidents the Minister said that the island administration has taken the following steps:

i) The number of convoys has been reduced from 8 to 4 on each side on the Andaman Trunk road which passes through the Jarawa Reserve.

ii) An officer has been designated as Nodal Officer Incharge to monitor all the activities on day to day basis on the Andaman Trunk Road passing through the Jarawa Reserve.

iii) Notice has been issued to the general pu8blic and tour operators that immediate action will be taken against violators.

iv) The staff of Tribal Welfare Department and Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS) posted in the Jarawa Tribal Reserve has been asked to be extra cautious and keep vigil on the convoys passing through the Jarawa Reserve. Police has also provided better surveillance and escorts on the convoys to regulate any illegal activities.

v) To regulate the traffic on Andaman Trunk road passing through the Jarawa Reserve, UT Administration has issued an order that all Government vehicles proceeding to North and Middle Andaman from Port Blair and vice versa will cross through the Jarawa Reserved Area only if the vehicle is going for official visit alongwith the Officer and the movement of vehicles will be in the regular convoy.

vi) Provisions to book for photography/videography in the Tribal Reserve has been included in the proposed amendment to the A and N (PAT) Regulations 1956.

vii) Action has been initiated for opening an alternate sea route to Baratang.

The Jarawa tribe is an indigenous tribe of the Andaman Islands and their present numbers are estimated at between 250-400 individuals. (ANI)