"Human safaris exploit Jarawas with cops'

Case Details of File Number: 17/26/0/2012
Diary Number	20782
Name of the Complainant	SHRUTI NAGVANSHI, MANAGING TRUSTEE
Address	MANAVADHIKAR JAN NIGRANI SAMITI, SA 4/2 A, DAULATPUR,
	VARANASI , UTTAR PRADESH
Name of the Victim	JARAWAS
Address	NOT AVAILABLE,
	ANDAMAN & NICOBAR , ANDAMAN & NICOBAR
Place of Incident	ANDAMAN & NICOBAR
	ANDAMAN & NICOBAR , ANDAMAN & NICOBAR
Date of Incident	1/1/1991
Direction issued by the Commission	The Commission has come across a distressing press report captioned, "Human safaris exploit Jarawas with cops' that appeared in 'The Times of India' dated 11.1.2012. The press report, while referring to a news item that appeared in 'Observer' in UK, has alleged that naked Jarawa tribals who live in reserve forests in South Andaman are being made to dance in the nude before tourists for food and money during the course of 'human safaris' organized by operators in connivance with local authorities. The UK-based 'Observer' newspaper has also released a video showing a policeman, posted to protect the tribals, urging Jarawa women to dance after telling them he would give them food. The report describes tourists throwing bananas and biscuits to the tribals at the roadside, "as they would to animals in a safari park". It has further been alleged in the report that the local police have taught them to beg and to take away the money collected by the tribals in return for tobacco, which they never previously used, and food. The Commission issued notice to the Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi as well as the Administrator, Andaman & Nicobar Administration to submit a report in the matter within four weeks including action, if any, taken against the tour operators/police officials. A report dated 6.2.12 was received from the Principal Secretary (TW), Directorate of Tribal Welfare, Andaman & Nicobar Administration. As per the report, the police department initiated investigation on the report appearing in the print media in an FIR No. 07/2012 u/s 292/IPC read with section 67 IT Act 2000, Section 3 (1)(III) of SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocity) Act 1989 and 7/8 of A&N Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes ) Regulation, 1956 and two persons featuring in the article which appeared in the “observer” have been arrested and sent to judicial remand. The Supreme Court in Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.12125 of 2010 has directed the Principal Secretary (Tribal Welfare) and other officers of the administration of Andaman and Nicobar to ensure total compliance of the prohibition contained in notification dated 30.10.2007 of the Directorate of Tribal Welfare, Andaman and Nicobar Admionistration, prohibiting any person other than a member of an Aboriginal tribe from entering the buffer zone for any commerical and / or tourism activities. In view of the facts narrated above, the Commission finds no reason to proceed further with the matter and the case is closed. LINK WITH MAIN FILE NO. : 5/26/1/2012-WC
Action Taken	Concluded and No Further Action Required (Dated 7/30/2012 )
Status on 8/28/2012	The Case is Closed.

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