New Delhi: Four persons, including two policemen, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the controversial Jarawa tourism episode wherein members of the tribe were made to dance in return for food by foreign tourists, the government said on Thursday.
In written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha over inquiry into exploitation of Jarawa tribes, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Mahadeo Singh Khandela said several steps have been taken by the Andaman administration to ensure safety and security of tribal population there.
"Four persons have been arrested in this connection who include two policemen. The policemen have been placed under suspension for dereliction in discharge of their duties and a
departmental inquiry has been initiated against them," he told
the House.
An inquiry was ordered after some objectionable video footages of the Jarawa tribes appeared in the media earlier this year.
"Government of India as well as the National Commission
for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) immediately took up the matter
with the UT administration of Andaman and Nicobar for
appropriate action," Khandela said.
Other measures, taken by government to ensure that the
tribal population is not exploited by the visitors, include
reduction in the number of convoys from eight to four on each
side of Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) which passes through the
Jarawa reserve and regulation of traffic there.
Khandela also said the tour operators have also been
cautioned to desist from promoting Jarawa tourism, while
awareness programs are being conducted for settlers and ATR
users from time to time.
PTI
