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Tourism concern fights for Jarawa people
Semi-nude Jarawa women were forced to dance for tourists in exchange for food.
Image © Survival International
On 7th January 2012, the British newspaper, The Observer, exposed the scandal of semi-nude Jarawa women being forced to dance for tourists in exchange for food – by a policeman, who instead of protecting them, encouraged behaviour after being bribed by the tour operators.
Said Tourism Concern: "The Jarawa are an indigenous people living in the reserve on the Andaman Islands. Under the Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation 1956, it is illegal for tour operators to make contact with the Jarawa – to take pictures, to pass through their territory and to communicate with them. "
"The Indian government’s Jarawa policy states the Jarawa people should have ‘maximum autonomy with minimum interference’ in their lives. However, these rules are not enforced and with over 500 tourists visiting their area daily, the Jarawa have become part of a "human safari" with tourists throwing food in exchange for ‘entertainment’."
Tourism Concern is calling for action. The organization is making a call for support to build global pressure on the Indian Government to take measures to ensure that the Jarawa’s rights are recognised and those found exploiting are charged accordingly.
Moreover, the organization is urging the closing of the road running through the Jarawa’s reserve, which has allowed tourists to make regular contact with them, putting them at risk of exploitation, contracting diseases and predatory sex.
Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2012 Special Offers HERE
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