By IANS,
New Delhi : Following the recent expose of Jarawa women being made to dance for tourists, the Andaman and Nicobar administration has restricted movement of tourists on the Trunk Road that passes through the Jarawa reserve, the Lok Sabha was informed Tuesday.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullapally Ramachandran said that the number of convoys passing through the Andaman Trunk Road through the Jarawa Reserve has been reduced from eight to four on each side.
Ramachandran also said that a nodal officer was designated to monitor day-to-day activities on the Andaman Trunk Road.
“Notice has been issued to the general public and tour operations that immediate action will be taken against violators,” he said.
The staff members of the tribal welfare department and Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti posted in the Jarawa Reserve too were asked to be “extra cautious and keep vigil” on the convoys passing through the reserve.
“Police has also provided better surveillance and escorts to the convoys,” he said.
In January this year, footage of Jarawa women in their traditional attire appeared in the electronic media on the basis of a news report in a British newspaper. Jarawas are an aboriginal tribe protected from any external interference and interaction under Indian laws.
Ramachandran said the police have arrested three persons in connection with two incidents of Jarawa women being exploited by tour operators.
The administration also suspended a police constable and initiated a departmental probe against him for his role in the Jarawa women exploitation incident, he added.