EXCERPTS FROM TRIBAL WELFARE
REPORT IN
THE DAILY TELEGRAMS
REPUBLIC
ON JARAWAS
“The Jarawa tribe with the estimated
population of 406 is inhabiting the western coasts of South and Middle Andaman
Islands. They are leading their normal life of hunting and gathering.
Government of India
Jarawa Reserve Area has been increased from
847 to 1028 sq kms. Exclusive marine resources base has also been increased by
declaring coastal water up to 5 km from High Tide Line as Tribal Reserve.”
“In order to protect the Jarawas from the
harmful effects and exposure of the outside world and owing to the increased
tourism activities infrastructures coming up around the Jarawa territory, the A
& N Admn in Oct 2007 declared an area up to 5 kms around the Jarawa Tribal
reserve on the landward side as Buffer Zone prohibiting tourism activities in
this zone.”
“The Administration is at present actively
considering a proposal to demarcate a new Buffer Zone to address the concerns
of livelihood expressed by settlers living therein. In the re-visited Buffer
Zone, not only the concerns of the settlers would be adequately addressed but
the issue of protection and preservation of the Jarawa would be spelled out
with much clarity.”
“Research driven policy initiatives of
short-term and long-term will be taken by the Administration to appreciate the
perception and will of Jarawas and mainstream them with the outside world
according to the phase, set by Jarawas themselves, which may be time consuming
and worth waiting.”
