Jarawa women dance clip old, videographer will be held: Chidambaram (Lead)
January 12th, 2012 - 10:26 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Jan 12 (IANS) Home Minister P. Chidambaram Thursday said the footage of Jarawa tribeswomen being made to dance for tourists was “three to four years” old, and added that the government has asked the Andaman and Nicobar Island authorities to question the tour operator and videographer who shot the clip.
Responding to questions on the footage posted by a British newspaper website which showed semi-naked Jarawa women dancing for tourists, Chidambaram said whatever happened was violation of norms.
He said the footage has been subjected to analysis.
“Now we have got a copy of a video, we have subjected that video to an analysis. It appears that particular video was shot, I am not talking about any other video, may be there is more than one…that particular video we have been able to date it and it’s about 3-4 years ago.”
Chidambaram said he had instructed the administration to apprehend the tour operator concerned and videographer and interrogate them.
“Whatever policy has been adopted by the Andaman and Nicobar administration is in place. I think what happened was a violation of that policy,” Chidambaram said.
The authorities Thursday registered a case against “unknown people” for shooting and uploading videos.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands authorities Wednesday denied that women from the endangered Jarawa tribe were exploited and forced to dance semi-naked for tourists, as reported by a British newspaper’s website. But they said the veracity of the video would be checked and action taken against those involved.
The footage had evoked serious reactions from women’s rights activists who demanded strong action against those who violated the rules.
However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) found flaw with government’s policy to isolate the Jarawas from the mainstream.
“Government should review it’s policy on the tribes. They should try to understand what is their aspiration,” Prakash Javadekar told reporters.
“You cannot deny them the right to development, and to become a part of the mainstream. I have seen the Jarawas coming to the road to ambulances and getting medical aide,” he added.
According to official data, there are 403 members in the Jarawa tribe who live in a jungle reserve on South Andaman.
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- Andamans tribals' semi-naked dance: Authorities promise action (Roundup) - Jan 11, 2012
- Government denies Andaman tribes exploited (Second Lead) - Jan 11, 2012
- Government seeks report on Andaman tribals dancing for food (Lead) - Jan 11, 2012
- Bring Jarawas to the mainstream, says BJP - Jan 12, 2012
- Unfair to let Jarawas live in beastly conditions: Minister - Jan 13, 2012
- Odisha denies Bonda tribes' exploitation - Jan 25, 2012
- Andaman asked about semi-naked dance - Jan 11, 2012
- Odisha denies Bonda tribe's exploitation (Lead) - Jan 25, 2012
- Jarawa abuse fallout: Andamans restricts tourist movements - Mar 13, 2012
- Commercial activity to be banned in Jarawa zone - May 31, 2012
- In Myanmar, the pygmies that time forgot - Jun 13, 2012
- Apex court bars tourism near Jarawa tribal reserve (Lead) - Jul 03, 2012
- One year after extinction of Bo, Andaman tribe in danger - Jan 24, 2011
- Andaman tribals not primitive: Jairam Ramesh - Aug 09, 2010
Tags: activists, andaman and nicobar, andaman and nicobar island, andaman and nicobar islands, aspiration, bharatiya janata party, bjp, home minister, island authorities, jarawa tribe, jarawas, mainstream, New Delhi, norms, p chidambaram, tour operator, tourists, uploading videos, veracity, videographer