By IANS,
Bhubaneswar: Authorities in Odisha Wednesday denied that primitive Bonda tribes in the state were in any way exploited by tourists.
The denial came after a section of media reported that some tour operators have been advertising their holiday packages stating that Bondas are ‘naked people’ and tourists can go for an excursion to the area where they reside.
The report has intensified the country’s already raging controversy over the Jarawa tribals in Andaman Islands who were allegedly exploited and forced to dance semi-naked for food as shown in a video footage recently released by a British newspaper.
The primitive Bondas only live in Maoist-affected Malkangiri district of Odisha and their population is around 2,000.
“We are not allowing any one to the area without permission. This is not a case like Jarwa. We are not allowing anyone for recreation purpose,” district collector Balwant Singh told IANS, adding he has not come across any such allegations so far.