Port Blair, Mar 18: Since reporting of the first COVID-19 infection in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Tribal Welfare Department and Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS) took good care of Jarawa Tribe members and shifted them deep inside Jarawa Reserve Forest so that they do not come in the contact with the outside world, especially people travelling through Andaman Trunk Road.
Only because of such timely precautions, not a single case of COVID-19 infection was detected from Jarawa Tribe members till now.
But now, it seems that things have changed and since last one month almost daily Jarawa Tribe members could be seen along Andaman Trunk Road, which is dangerous as far as safety of Jarawa community is concerned, during this time of pandemic.
Earlier sources in Tribal Welfare Department had told Andaman Sheekha that members of Jarawa Tribal community were shifted to three different locations for ensure their safety from COVID-19 infections and the three locations are Lewaital, Lakra Lungra and Bada Balu. But now it is not clear, what has changed in the safety protocol.
When contacted insiders told Andaman Sheekha that because of favourable season for honey collection the Jarawa Tribe members are coming out from their present locations and often are seen along Andaman Trunk Road.
It is also learnt that this is in the knowledge of AAJVS staffs, who have the responsibility of guarding the Jarawa Tribe Members.
Highly placed sources told Andaman Sheekha that such spotting of Jarawa men and women along Andaman Trunk Road is also recorded in Jawara Protection Post of Middle Strait on daily basis, which can be verified by the Administration.
Such spotting of Jawara Tribe Members along ATR has also been confirmed by many frequent commuters of Andaman Trunk Road and hence this is high time that the Tribal Welfare Department and AAJVS take some immediate measures to shift Jarawa Tribes in safe location.