Indian Luxury Resort Endangers Isolated Jarawa Tribe
The survival of the Jarawa tribe, on the Andaman Islands in India, is threatened by the construction of a luxury resort by Barefoot India, a so-called ‘environmentally friendly’ tourism company.
The Jarawa tribe has only had outside contact since 1998, and the 320 members are being affected by poaching on their land, pressure from settlers and loggers, and exposure to diseases, alcohol, and possible sexual exploitation.
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“One has to wonder why Barefoot is building a hotel so close to the Jarawa, if it is not to allow tourists the opportunity to intrude into their lives. It will also bring an influx of workers and settlers to the area, increasing the considerable pressure on the Jarawa and their land. And it will risk exposing them to diseases to which they have no immunity, and to alcohol, which has ravaged other tribes on the Andamans and elsewhere.” - Sophie Grig, Survival International
The new resort, an offshoot of an existing Barefoot resort, is being built only 500 meters from the reserve set aside by the Indian government for the Jarawa. Local government officials are appealing a court ruling from Calcutta which gave the go-ahead on the project.
“The resort is next to a path the Jarawa use regularly as they hunt and gather in the forest. There is no way Barefoot could avoid putting at serious risk the lives of these extremely vulnerable people, whose existence is already threatened by poachers invading their land and by the road that cuts through their forest.” - Grig
Survival has been working to protect the tribe’s land and hold the Indian government to its policy of minimum outside intervention, and was instrumental in keeping the nomadic tribe from being forcibly settled. To donate to the campaign or send a letter to the Indian government, see Survival’s Jarawa page.
For more information on the effects of contact on isolated tribes, read the group’s report Progress Can Kill.
Image: Venkatesh K at Flickr under Creative Commons License
In regards to the video, some time ago a Survival fieldworker was travelling with some government officials and others when the group was approached by a few Jarawa, outside the Reserve. The Jarawa wanted to complain about poacher encroachment and our fieldworker was asked to videotape the incident, specifically to draw attention to this serious problem. She was not the only one present who photographed the event. What is important about this recording is that it allows the Jarawa their own voice on an international stage for the first time.
The photographs Survival uses of Jarawa were donated to us; we have not paid for them, nor did we commission them. No Survival staff member has entered the Jarawa reserve illegally.
The real issue here is that tourists, having stepped off airliners shortly before their arrival at the resort, will be particularly likely to be carrying pathogens potentially fatal to peoples with low immunity. The swine flu pandemic can only increase the danger that they pose to the Jarawa.
Have been trying to post some comments here, but seems it is not possible… is this a systematic commenting system only allowed to some people, or is the public allowed to respond?
Raj
I was stunned by going through the supporting documents in there response. one of the justification was DEW DALE RESORT BARATANG – STARTED IN 2007 AFTER THE ADMINISTRATION SERVED NOTICE TO BAREFOOT AND PROJECT CLEARED BY DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM – THIS IS LOCATED APPROX 2.7 KM FROM THE JARAWA TRIBAL RESERVE.
But I would like to clarify to Barefoot that I have stayed in Dew Dale in Baratang Island in Jan 2008. It the first resort in Baratang and a well made effort. And Baratang Island is entirely a different Island and in no way it can be justified that Dew Dale is nearer to Jarawa reserve than their Collinpur Resort which appears to be just 3 Kms. Moreover Dew Dale Resorts in Baratang is located at 6 Kms from the Jetty of Nilambur in Baratang Island. I would like to suggest Barefoot that they should not justify their location in Collinpur by simply pointing at others like Dew Dale Resorts who have really put in a sincere effort for tourism development in Baratang Island. I am giving herewith the link of this simple but well made property so that it will be easy for all of us to decide.
http://www.dewdaleresorts.com
Dear Maxel
I contacted Barefoot for clarification on Dew Dale Resort(info@barefootindia.com).
Their response was as follows: “In the same manner that you say that Dew Dale is ‘6 km from Nilambur jetty’, Barefoot’s Colinpur property is perhaps 10km from Jarawa reserve i.e. these distances refer to the distance by sealed road in both cases (winding road).”
On another note, I too have seen although not stayed at Dew Dale Resort - it is visible along the ATR.
The distance of 3 km and 2.7 km variously mentioned in regard to both resorts is apparently the aerial distance.
Barefoot management can speak for themselves, but I don’t believe they presented the evidence as an act against Dew Dale resort; just as inconsistency of approach of the government and of Survival International.
I am sure Dew Dale is as wonderful a resort as you describe.
Have you been to Colinpur, Maxel? I would say that Barefoot have put in sincere effort for tourism development in various geographic locations across the Andaman Islands. Based on what I have experienced first hand and their eco credentials presented online as part of this spat, I hav eno hesitation in endorsing them.
I don’t think this should be viewed as a Barefoot vs Dew Dale debate - that does not seem tobe anyone’s intention. And it seems to me that that is only a very small part of the overall argument Barefoot has made.
I perceive that, like me, you have had a fantastic experience in Andaman, down in no small part to the management of your resort. So we have that in common for sure. Wonderful place, and I am now motivated to go back at the earliest
While I may not be as knowledgable as some of you for I am still in school, I am going to have to agree with Toby on this matter. I do not beleive that we have any right to be so near the Jarawa tribes reserve. While some argue that you travelled through their reserve and it was fine, in my studies I found that the road was supposed to be closed according to the indian government and that it continued to stay open due to lack of enforcement. I dont think that a resort should be taking advantage of this road to transport tourists who could be carrying diseas through their reserve.
After careful examination of the whole episode one can only think that the red-tapism in Andaman Islands is at its heights. They are behind the private investors to get some ransom who have really put in sincere efforts in promoting tourism and economic & social upliftment of some rural areas. Even in Schools as student mentioned they are being taught that when one travels in a car/ bus on ATR/ collinpur through the Jarawa reserve the Jarawas get infected with Certain diseases. Is it correct? Which disease is having such spreading power without any close contact? The Scools are misguiding you my dear student. You may not be aware the same administration under the nose of Secretary, Tribal welfare is conducting trips to Jarawa area. Daily, illegally, more than 500 tourists are going inside the Jarawa reserve and returning back. After the Supreme court’s decision to restrict the traffic iside the Jarawa Reserve, there is a standing order of Administration that the road is closed for traffic returning on the same day. But more than 500 people are returning on the same day in collusion with the Secretary(Tribal Welfare) and the local Police. They may be making lot of money by closing their eyes in this. Closing the ATR which is the LIFELINE for people of North & Middle Andaman is not at all a justified and right decision but of course the illegal movement of 500 and odd tourists with the involvement of Corrupt Secretaries, should’nt it be stopped?
The whole issue with Barefoot is only the personal vengeance of one lady IAS officer. She issued some notification of Buffer Zone after they set up a resort in Collinpur. Since no law can take a retrospective effect Barefoot Challenged the notification. The High Court passed an order in favour of Barefoot. To satisfy her ego SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL was brought into the whole episode. The administration under the leadership of this same lady officer went for an appeal against the High court order.
Now I would like to ask “Survival” are you really working for the benefit of primitive tribes or to satify the ego of these corrupt IAS officials of Andaman Islands. More than 20-30 Govt. vehicles are going to this place only to see the Jarawa people daily. Are they having any official duty there? Is this really a part of their official duty? Tourism department is operating bus services to Jarawa reserve daily in contrary to their own orders.
Moreover these Buses dont even have tourist permiit and dont even obtain a permit to cross the Jarawa check post so how are they taking tourists every day?
LOOK SURVIVAL, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO WORK FOR THE BENEFIT OF THIS JARAWA TRIBE WHY ARE YOU KEEPING MUM ON THIS ILLEGAL MOVEMENT OF MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE EVERYDAY TO THIS JARAWA RESERVE.THIS MASS TOURISM IS CERTAINLY GOING TO HAVE A BAD IMPACT ON THIS JARAWA TRIBE. DON’T SIMPLY WRITE A COMMENT IN SUCH A BLOG UNECESSARILY. JUST LEAVE BAREFOOT ALONE AND IF YOU REALLY HAVE GUTS, STOP THIS REGULAR ILLEGAL ACTIVITY WITHIN JARAWA RESERVE OTHERWISE DON’T GET INVOLVED IN SUCH CHEAP PUBILICITY STUNTS JUST TO SUPPORT SOME CORRUPT IAS OFFICERS.