Non-Negrito Children Born in Jarawas
The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bishnu Pada Ray has said that he had the list of three non-Negrito children ''born'' in a Jarawa family.
''As refugee settlements were established in the nearby Jarawa areas, they now keep connection with the villagers. They sell crab, deer meat in exchange of food items like rice, masala (spices), oil etc,'' the MP informed UNI a couple of days ago, to the quaking astonishment of all those concerned.
Allegations were leveled in the past that the Jawara women were being exploited by the non-tribal population, living or working near the Jarawa Reserve area. The MP said that he had already highlighted this issue in the Parliament on 28 April, 2010.
''Their connection with the villagers is increasing. In a Jarawa house, non-Negrito children have born. As a proof, the names of the three children are with me,'' he added. Mr. Ray requested the government to look into the problems of the Jarawas and increase the staff strength, appointed for the protection of the aboriginal Jarawa Tribes. He also urged the government to appoint employees on regular basis with proper salary.
The Jarawa tribals of the Andaman Islands chose to resist contact with all outsiders until 1998. However, they have been under serious threat of going extinct, of late, due to regular contact with the outside world.
Meanwhile, talking to UNI, a local environmental activist, Samir Acharya said that this was not the first such incident that has come in limelight. ''If the MP's statement is true, then it is surprising that the non-Negrito children are still alive. Earlier, people belonging to the Jarawa tribe never used to tolerate mix-up in their community. There were cases when they had killed non-Negrito children after they were born,'' the Secretary of SANE (Society of Andaman and Nicobar Ecology) told UNI.
Appalling, to say the least…!!! Well, what gamut of convolutions are the authorities waiting for before deciding to act potently and judiciously, if they really mean to do so, at all, to secure the fate of the Jarawas, who are nearing extinction, in many and various ways…?
News courtesy: http://www.netindia123.com
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