Andaman: tribal women have to dance naked for food

In a shocking disclosure, a leading British newspaper has released an amateur video footage shot in the Andaman Islands which shows tribal women, naked waist up, dancing for tourists.

The tribe in question is the Jarawa tribe, who have inhabited the Andaman Islands for thousands of years.

The Guardian newspaper reported that the women are forced to dance, mostly naked, for tourists’ amusement by local police who are paid a bribe by the visitors. And the inflow of tourists has only gone up in the recent past thanks to tour companies that run safaris through jungles on the islands every day.

In the video shot by a tourist, a police officer not seen in the video is heard telling the Jarawa women to dance.

"Dance," he is heard telling. "Dance for me."

The officer was reportedly paid a 200 pound bribe by wealthy tourists to get the women dance. "I gave you food," he is heard telling the women.

The Jarawa is a reclusive tribe with whom the contact has been established only recently. It is the tribe’s first effort to reach out to the outside world. And what a shame this effort has turned out to be.

As per official data, there are 403 members in the Jarawa tribe who live in a jungle reserve on South Andaman. While being trusting and innocent, they are vulnerable and that is what is leading to their exploitation.