Comments on: Indian Luxury Resort Endangers Isolated Jarawa Tribe

By: Tejes

Tejes — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:28:48 +0000

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.

By: Student

Student — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:45:45 +0000

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.

By: Paul Markham

Paul Markham — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 07:07:52 +0000

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

By: Maxel

Maxel — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:03:39 +0000

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

By: Raj Gyawali

Raj Gyawali — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:11:45 +0000

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

By: Toby, Survival International

Toby, Survival International — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:11:40 +0000

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.

By: Rohan

Rohan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:04:56 +0000

california reader, It will also interest you to know that the Jarawa in the video speak Hindi NOT any Jarawa language for the first part of the video. Mid-way through the video, they are prompted by a voice (off-screen) to speak in their own language. The Jarawa interviewed are by no stretch of imagination “isolated”.

It is also relevant to note that Survival International has used the services of Thierry Falise. (See Photo Credits on Survival web site.)
http://www.survival.es/files/pressroom/37_89_364_BAU%20jarawa%20jul%2005.pdf

Thierry Falise, is a Bangkok based Journalist, who undoubtedly was INSIDE the Jarawa reserve while taking photos.
http://www.thierryfalise.com/www/Jarawas_page.html

Is it Survival International’s tenuous position that the Barefoot resort over 3km OUTSIDE the several hundred square km Jarawa reserve is somehow of greater danger than Thierry Felise INSIDE the reserve?

Toby, Would you care to respond?

By: russ

russ — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:07:49 +0000

Hi Toby, I would love to return to the Andaman & Nicobar islands and am not whatsoever interested in your babble.

Best Regards,
Russ

By: Toby, Survival International

Toby, Survival International — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:02:54 +0000

Even if the Barefoot resort were more than 3km from the reserve (which we don’t accept), it changes nothing. The Andamans administration believes that a 5km buffer zone around the Jarawa reserve is necessary to prevent disease.

We reject Barefoot’s claims that Survival’s press release was inaccurate. Any development so close to the Jarawa’s reserve will pose a grave danger to such an isolated people. The fact that Barefoot’s guests are largely an international clientele who will have stepped off airliners only a few hours previously, and will therefore be carriers of a variety of infectious diseases from all corners of the globe, hugely increases the risk.

Survival will continue to vigorously oppose Barefoot’s resort. To Samit of Barefoot, we say: your clients should quite simply not be there and your resort should be closed.

Toby
–
Survival International

By: russ

russ — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:00:17 +0000

Never been to these resorts but I have stayed in Port Blair and visited Jolly Bouy & Red Skin years back. Some of the most fantastic snorkeling to be found.

We were diving which was a little hazardous 15 years back due to the poor condition of equipment available on the island – oil & sea water in the cylinders etc – we spent the first day repairing the available equipment but the diving was great.

Funny thing was that those snorkeling only saw as much as we did diving – many reefs were very shallow and spectacular.