Orissa govt sets rules for foreigners

The government said foreign tourists and researchers would have to get the district magistrates permission to visit areas inhabited by such tribes.

In the wake of the controversial Jarawa video,the Orissa government on Saturday drew up guidelines for foreign tourists and researchers who want to visit the particularly vulnerable tribal groups PVTG such as Bondas and Dongaria Kondh tribes in the state.

The government said foreign tourists and researchers would have to get the district magistrates permission to visit areas inhabited by such tribes. No permission should be given for visiting the PVTG areas at night. No photography/ videography of the tribal persons belonging to the PVTG will be allowed. Physical proximity of the tourists to PVTGs should be strictly prohibited. They should also not be allowed to enter into the houses of PVTGs. No permission should be granted for any form of amusement/ entertainment by the PVTGs for the benefit of tourists, said the government guidelines.

The government made it clear that while granting permission,the district magistrate should impose conditions as necessary to protect and uphold the cultural ethos and dignity of the tribal community. The district magistrate should allow visitors to visit only limited number of villages/ locations,taking into account the sensitivity of the area and bona fide purpose of visit. The tourists should be accompanied by a representative of the development agency of the concerned PVTG. It shall be the duty of the inspector in charge/ OIC of the police station to ensure that the conditions mentioned in the permission are strictly followed. In case of any violation,criminal cases should be lodged against the tourist/ sponsor/ tour operator under appropriate sections of law, said the government order.

The government has barred tour operators from depicting photographs,video clips,articles on the PVTGs on their websites/ brochures. They will also have to submit a list of foreigners who visit such tribal areas every month.

The Bondas,one of Orissas primitive tribes,live in the hills of Khairput block of Malkangiri. In the 2011 census,they numbered 6,650.

The Dongaria Kondhs,another primitive tribe numbering just about 7,000,live on the slopes of the Niyamgiri mountains of Kalahandi and Rayagada district. In 2010,the Dongaria Kondhs were in the news after Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said he would oppose the mining of Niyamgiri mountain for bauxite by the Vedanta group.