SANE Newsletter
October 2003

A Tale of Two Cities

Once upon a time, there were two cities called Phu and Por, separated by a narrow stretch of sea.

The city of Phu was an apparently prosperous one, with a mighty King and equally powerful followers, where entertainment and luxury out-ruled other issues, where beaches and seas attracted tourists from all over the world, and where drugs and flesh-trade was rampant, under the purposeful ignorance of the mighty ruler, where the housewives of powerful people were rewarded for being dutiful and caring of their husbands and other women were considered as potential means of earning profit.

As the days went by, the King of prosperous Phu struck upon a wonderful idea. He was eying the neighboring city of Por, still pristine in its beauty. He planned twinning the city of Phu with Por. This, he thought, would enhance trade and flow of tourists to the new territory enriching Phu. But alas! Little did the king of Por and his followers think about the consequence of this royal wish. Supported by a few like-minded people from the city of Por, the twinning of the two cities went about.

There was a miraculous profit in tourism, lots of revenue flowing in, the twin city of Phu-Por was now known worldwide. There were thousands of people coming in. The kings of the two cities were more than happy. And the years went by like this.

But not far behind the celebrations, sat the Department of Health of the city of Por, with their heads in their hands. The cases of dreaded diseases like AIDS shot up at an alarming rate. The local culture of the simple Por people degenerated.

The Law keepers of the Islands raised their hands in surrender to the increasing rates of prostitution and drug peddling. They were at a loss in finding ways to curb crime.

The virgin beaches lost their beauty, the environmentalists gave up, the indigenous tribes vanished, the island became a concrete jungle with innumerable bill boards and advertising placards (the only remnants of wood!) screaming out to the tourists inviting them for entertainment of all sorts.

Years flew by and the people stopped coming to Por. The fear of loosing their lives to deadly diseases, the idea of visiting a place devoid of any natural beauty or mystery, did not seem to interest them anymore.

Thus today the twinned cities of Phu-Por lay idle, with their once prosperous kings, like our elders say, sit old and tired today.

Only if the cities had realized that this idea of twinning of the cities was, in the words of the great Mahatma Gandhi, 'a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank'!

Thus ends the tale of two cities, the cities that stand as an example of cardinal folly, of excessive greed and utter mismanagement. The Por people remember the King of Por as one 'whose honour rooted in dishonour stood and faith unfaithful kept him falsely true.'

The Genesis of Twinning

The Chief Secretary A&N Administration Shri Pradeep Singh IAS, had written to the Port Blair Municipal council to establish sister city relationship between Port Blair & Phuket. His letter said, "The aim of this scheme is for twinning the city of Port Blair with the city of Phuket to promote international understanding and strengthening relationship between Port Blair and Phuket through tourism, education and culture, urban development, solid waste management, commerce and investment. The twinning of the cities shall benefit the citizens of Port Blair through exchanges, studies towards solving problems being faced by Port Blair due to rapid urbanization and sustainable development..."

In response to the Chief Secretary's proposal, the Port Blair Municipal Council on September 3, 2003 passed a resolution that said, "The Port Blair Municipal Council is pleased to the request of the Chief Secretary, A&N Islands for twinning the city of Port Blair with Phuket in Thailand to establish a bond of friendship, understanding, goodwill through tourism education, culture, urban development, solid waste management and investments.

The Council also resolved to keep an initial budgetary provision of Rs. 30 Lakhs in the Annual Plan for the year 2003-04 to make the twinning exercise and its implementation a success."

Vending Sex: an alternative model

The importance of carnal desires were never overlooked in our country. Never so in our tradition. We descend from an era where desire of flesh was accepted up-front, not pushed in a dark corner. It was nothing to be ashamed of. Look at Konark, Khajuraho and Kamasutra. Neither were the women. The women were treated as equals. Probably that was the reason the need for women empowerment and women liberalization were never felt. The equality of sex needed no proof. Each had its own entity, with their respective responsibilities and duties. Never did one try to impinge the other.

We have descended from people who saw many great empires. The Maurya was one such. We have our own gurus like Kautilya (ca. 300 BC) - the great scholar in politics, diplomacy and sociology, whose intrigues and political strategies are still being followed today. With a tradition as rich as this, we do not have to depend on models practised in foreign nations.

Kautilya recognized that carnal desire in man was there from the day that the proverbial Adam and Eve partook the proverbial fruit of knowledge. He did not hesitate to call a spade a spade. Unlike the modern 'civilized' society that turns a blind eye to the craving for sex and sweeps the dirt under the carpet to let it accumulate, Kautilya attacked it head on and came up with pragmatic solutions.

While many tribal societies of the world whether in Samoa, in the Indian North-East or Madhya Pradesh and even the Nicobars nearer at home, had given social acceptance, the mainstream Indians and the 'mainstream civilized people in most of the world' had chosen to remain silent on the issue. The consequence of such a hypocritical attitude is that we think of sex, we dream of sex, but we choose not to discuss it openly and not even to acknowledge that our lust for sex exists. Look at any advertisement for any product in our society. Don't most of these tickle our sexual instincts and try to capitalize on it?

Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, our beloved Prime Minister has sometimes been compared to Kautilya for his diplomatic skills. Before borrowing a model from foreign countries that is alien to the Indian ethos, we urge him to kindly consider the home grown model prescribed by Chanakya. We will find that Kautilya had anticipated the problems encountered even by the 21st Century societies and had proposed remedies for it.

Instead of trying to follow an exotic prescription, we urge the respected Prime Minister to use the Kautilyan remedy and even export it to the other countries including Thailand who are plagued by the problems generated by their model.

Let us try to remember that 3 millenniums ago Kautilya had recommended appointment of a Chief Controller of Entertainment by the State to oversee, supervise and Control the sex industry for recreation. Thailand is debating on legalization prostitution only now.

It was only in 1969 that Desmond Morris classified human sexual behaviour in ten different functional categories, namely procreation sex, pair formation sex, pair maintenance sex, physiological sex, exploratory sex, self rewarding sex, occupational sex, tranquilizing sex, commercial sex and status sex. Kautilya was familiar with Vatsayana even then.

Chanakya, named Kautilya because of his sophisticated intellect, met the challenge boldly and prescribed remedies that would satisfy the primal passions of the people while benefiting the state, the vendors and the consumers. Let us now take a look at Kautilya's prescription.

Providing sexual entertainment to the public using prostitutes was an activity strictly controlled by the State. The state had to bear the expenditure for training courtesans, prostitutes and actresses. A beautiful, young and talented woman, whether a member of the courtesan family or not, was appointed as the Head of the brothel with a deputy under her. She was given a grant to take care of the expenses. If the Head of the brothel goes away or dies, her daughter or sister takes over. Or the madam can beforehand appoint a deputy. If no such arrangements are made, the establishment shall directly come under the King and Chief Controller.

The prostitutes enjoyed a respectable position in the society and with the king. The salary they received was equal to that received by senior civil servants.

Just as the rights of the prostitutes were safeguarded against, they were liable to certain regulations too. In case they desired to exit or quit they were pay a compensation. The compensation was in lieu of the expenses made by the State to train the prostitutes. The compensation levied from a Grade I prostitute was 24,000 Panas. Panas was then the currency used. The value of Pana can be guessed by realizing that a Govt. servant of the lowest grade got a salary of 5 Panas per month. The Chief Engineer got 166 Panas a month. Any offence or forceful act done by any citizen on the prostitutes was punishable and liable to a stiff penalty.

The establishment was to render full accounts to the Chief Controller of Entertainment. Independent prostitutes, who were neither given grants nor required to produce detailed accounts, had to pay a tax of 1/6th of their income. And interestingly, in situations of financial distress both groups had to produce extra revenue.

Punishments

In all cases, the punishment prescribed shall be imposed for the first offence, it shall be doubled for the second and trebled for the third. If the offence is committed a fourth time, any punishment may be awarded, as the King pleases.

Violations by a prostitute

Handing over ornaments and jewellery to an unauthorized person	4 1/4 panas
Abusing a client	2 panas
Causing Physical injury to a client	24 panas
Showing dislike to a client after receiving payment	48 panas
Refusing to sleep with an overnight client	8 times the fee
Killing a client	Death by burning alive or by drowing

Offences against a prostitute

Cheating a prostitute or robbing her of her ornaments or belongings	8 times the fee
Raping a prostitute	12 panas
Abducting, confining or disfiguring depending on the status of the victim	1000 to 2000 panas
Killing a mother, daughter or a prostitute in an establishment	Highest punishment specified

Miscellaneous

For having sexual relations with the exclusive mistress of another

48 panas

Training

"The state shall bear the expenditure on training courtesans, prostitutes and actresses in the following accomplishments:

Singing, playing musical instruments, conversing, reciting, dancing, acting, writing, painting, mind reading, preparing perfumes and garlands, shampooing and making love."

Salary

A Grade I Courtesan drew a salary just below that of a Divisional Commander of the armed forces but 50% more than the Chief Engineer, or Armed Forces or Camp Superintendent.

The Grade II Courtesans drew a salary equivalent to the Chief Engineer or Armed Forces or Camp Commandants.

Even the Grade III Courtesans were paid the same salary as Heads of Departments in Civil Service or Intelligence Officers in Secret Service.

While the Grade I Courtesan drew a salary of 3000 Panas, that of the Chief Superintendent of the Productive Forests was only 4000 Panas, Magistrates 8000 Panas and Princes, Ministers and Governor-Generals 12,000 Panas.

Information on Kautilya's Arthashastra (ca. 300 BC) is derived from "The Arthashastra", an English translation by L.N.Rangarajan (an IFS Officer who served as the Indian Ambassador to Greece, Sudan, Tunisia, Norway and Iceland). Mr. Rangarajan in the preface of the book, says, "The precepts of Kautilya on the social, political and economic structure of the ideal State are relevant even today." Kautilya says, "In the happiness of his subjects lies the King's happiness; in their welfare his welfare. He should not consider as good only that which pleases him but treat as beneficial to him whatever pleases his subjects."

The twinning of Phuket with our Islands will inevitably bring rampant prostitution to these Islands. This is a fact which remains strong and uncontested, even if some try to deny it.

In this scenario, shouldn't we also adopt the policies of this great policymaker?

If Kautilya's model was to be followed today, very little modifications may have to be made. Mind reading will be read as Psychology. The curriculum will include training in avoidance of sexually transmitted diseases, and a crash course in Ayurvedic Massage!

If we are successful in this model, we may set up specialized institutions where even foreign students who are willing to learn the art would be welcome. We may award a diploma to the Grade III learners, a Graduate Degree to the Grade II and Masters Degree to the Grade I learners! We might even come up with a Doctorate for the few extra- ordinary practitioners! Let sky be the limit! There must be grants that should be made available to them. They should also be given a position and rank in the society which will be equal to other important people in the Islands.

If we are looking towards making a profit by putting the virginity, the health status of its people, its heritage in terms of aboriginal tribes, the very safety and identity of these pristine islands on stake, let's make the effort a full-hearted one. When we are inviting disaster and are ready to pay the price for it, let us set an example!

Jarawa in Danger of AIDS

In a low-tech society like Jarawa, AIDS can spread like wildfire with a single infected person. Yes, with a single infection, even if they are not promiscuous. The infected one will certainly contaminate his spouse. Their custom of shaving the head with glass or shells can spread the infection. Being bare bodied and hyperactive in the forest and creeks, everyday they get many abrasions and bruises on their bodies. The custom of welcoming a person by embracing and sitting on the lap will cause mixing of body fluids and result in the spread of the infection in short order.

Twining of the two cities could be a prescription for death for the tribes of the Islands, if not for our friendly, simple easygoing local people also.

A Missile for Corruption

On the eve of his birthday, our President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was faced by a rather unusual question. An 11-year-old school girl wanted to know, in spite of the fact that the President has designed so many missiles, why has he not designed one to eliminate corruption from Bharat (India).

If an 11-year-old feels that way, is it not high time, we felt it too.

All Will Perish

A BBC correspondent during his recent visit to the Islands, while waiting to meet Mr. Bhakta, the former MP, talked to a farmer from Diglipur as to what was is his opinion about the ATR.

The farmer replied that "it is bad."

The correspondent who got all the more curious asked, "are you a sympathizer of the Jarawas? Is it bad for them?"

The farmer in clear words said, "the Jarawas are anyway going to perish whether the road is closed or not. But if the road is not closed, the Pre-1942 settlers will perish first and then we later settlers."

Is the Administration listening!?

Excerpts from the "Phuket Gazette"

Saturday, 27th September 2003
Andaman NGOs slam plans for Phuket links

Port Blair: Two environmental lobby groups in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have slammed plans for trade and tourism links between the islands and Phuket. Such links, they allege, would turn the islands from an idyllic tropical backwater into a sex tourism hotspot.

"The Andamans do not have any professional sex workers, [but] we may soon need thousands of them," claimed the Society for Andaman & Nicobar Ecology (SANE).

"Presently, tourism in Thailand [is] heavily dependent on the sex industry. Most of the tourists visiting Phuket are single white males and if, after [establishing links] the Andaman & Nicobar Administration is planning to bring those tourists here, we will definitely need thousands of professional sex workers very soon," said Samir Acharya, Secretary of SANE. Subhasis Ray, General Secretary of Healthy Environment by Less Pollution (HELP), another NGO, alleged that women from Myanmar are regularly smuggled in and sold to sex trade operators in Thailand. "We certainly do not want this type of tourism industry here in Port Blair," he added.

However, the administrators of the islands, which belong to India, disagree. K. Mahesh, Secretary of the Municipal Council of Port Blair, the island's capital, said he did not believe the theories advanced by the NGOs.

"It is not possible that if we [form links between] Port Blair and Phuket we will invite only single white males looking for sex. We have definite provisions in India to stop the sex trade coming to the Andamans.

"If something [like that looks to be happening], then our country's laws will take care of it well in advance."

But Mr Acharya argued that tourism would inevitably bring the sex trade with it. "Wherever there is demand there is supply. This is the same in the case of sex trade. Phuket has homosexual clubs, transvestite clubs and rampant flesh-trade." He added that the arrival of sex tourism would also bring Aids with it.

The Assistant Director of the islands' Aids Control Society also confessed to being worried about tourism links.

Dr. R. Tulsidasan said, "Presently, we don't have many cases of Aids in the Andamans. If [tourism links are formed] the flow of crowds will not only be from Phuket. Many Indian tourists will also visit Phuket. Since the sex industry [in Phuket] is booming, they may bring Aids with them."

In Phuket, Pamuke Achariyachai, Chairman of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, who has been at the forefront of talks to form trade links with the Andamans, reacted with shock and irritation to the NGOs' allegations.

He pointed out that the only discussions so far had been about trade, particularly about Phuket filling the Andamans' need for cement.

"I am very surprised that they think Phuket sells sex tourism," he said. "The last time that the President of the Port Blair Chamber of Commerce [Mohamed Jedwet] came to Phuket we discussed trade only, though he was very impressed with the level of development of Phuket and with its tourism industry.

"He said that, if possible, he would like to further the relationship, in terms of both trade and tourism," K. Pamuke said.

"Let's not forget," he added, "that there are good and bad NGOs."

K. Pamuke said that he would write to Mr Jedwet to help the people of the Andamans understand the situation in Phuket better so that the image of Phuket would not be destroyed.

"But if they think that this is what Phuket is like, there is no need for us to form any links."

The 300 or so Andaman and Nicobar Islands are about 250 kilometers northwest of Phuket, and nearly 400 kilometers from India, making trade with Phuket a tempting proposition.

The islands have long been a major base for the Indian Navy and until recently were closed to visitors. Some of the islands are still out of bounds.

Monday, 29th September 2003
Drugs top priority for new Governor

Pkuket Town: A more intense campaign against illegal drugs will be the top priority when the new Governor CEO, Udomsak Usawarangkura, arrives in Phuket tomorrow, ready to step behind his desk on Wednesday.

Coincidentally, October 1 also marks the beginning of a two-month nationwide campaign to eradicate illegal drugs from Thailand. It is hoped that by December 2, all 76 provinces will be able to declare that the campaign has been successful.

Vice-Governor Pongpow Ketthong told the Gazette today that the provincial government started a crackdown on illegal drugs in February. Since then, he said, almost 80% of drug takers and dealers who were arrested or volunteered for treatment have been rehabilitated.

On Wednesday, his first day in office, the new Governor CEO, accompanied by 200 to 300 local officers, will go to the Thavorn Grand Hotel to hear a national broadcast against drugs by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"The new Governor will also announce the Phuket policy to eradicate illegal drugs," V/Gov Pongpow said. "The policy will be successful if people in every community help to look after their own people and do not always rely on officials."

Tomorrow will be a settling-in day for the island's new administrative chief, with a visit to the Heroines' Monument and a lunch planned with some of his senior staff at his new home.

Monday, 29th September 2003
Meeting called to stem beachfront friction

PATONG: In a move to defuse growing tension between Phuket-native vendors in Patong and vendors who have migrated south to the resort town in hopes of making their fortunes, Patong Municipality on Friday held an all-day conference advocating more ethical business practices and a united front in serving tourists.

"It's not easy getting people from everywhere in Thailand to work and live together in Patong," said Namphet Chatpunyanon, Deputy Director of Patong Municipality's Environmental Health section and Head of a Municipality project called "Let's work together to be better hosts".

"There are so many non-Patong people that they outnumber Patong locals three to one, with most coming from the north and northeast of Thailand because they have heard of Patong's reputation as a place to make money," she said.

There are about 420 masseuses and masseurs working on Patong Beach, she said, with about 220 of them being from Isarn. Sunbed operators had refused to allow some people to offer massages in certain areas of the beach.

"Patong Municipality has to fix the problem by getting them to talk openly, and this project will make them realize they should cooperate to run their businesses together," K. Namphet said.

At the seminar, which attracted about 1,000 people to the Royal Paradise Hotel, nationally-recognized marketing guru Dr Seri Wongmonta advised the assembled throng, "Don't do business for today. You must realize that you can [stay in business] forever as long as you keep the place nice, and offer good service at a good price so that the tourists come back again."

CRZ Violation

Justice Samaresh Banerjea of Calcutta High Court and of Jarawa fame issued a Suo moto writ on a prominent lawyer, the Municipal Council and the Administration asking why the building (belonging to the Lawyer) should not be demolished as it violated the CRZ.

The building owner pleaded that his building plan was approved by the Municipal Council. Apparently the MC was not well-versed in CRZ provisions.

The Administration, to date, happens to be the biggest violator of the CRZ. If the Govt. itself does not respect laws and regulations, how can it expect the citizens to do so?

The operative part of the order is quoted below.

Court on its own motion Order DT. 29/9/03

Under such circumstances, we have got no option but to strike down The by law No. 15 (B) of the Port Blair Municipal Council Building Byelaw, 1999 and the owners of the said building therefore now have to demolish their building on their own with in a period of one month from the date, failing which the Administration and the Municipal Council shall take all steps for demolition of the same. For the same reasons any other building in respect of which permission has been granted by the Municipal Council in terms of Byelaw 15 (B) of the said Byelaws, 1999 proceedings on the footing that the Municipal area of Port Blair has already been reclassified into CRZ-II, the distance of which are less than 200 meters of HTL are also to be demolished in the manner aforesaid. One of such building has also come up to our notice excepting the One with which we have dealt with, the said building again situates almost opposite to Hotel Sinclairs which also happens to be absolutely in the front line of HTL and apparently at a distance of less than 200 meters there from the HTL.

The Administration as also the Municipal Council are hereby decided to find out the distance of the said building also from the HTL and if the same is less than 200 meters of HTL and the said building are also to be demolished.

It is needless to mention that in the event, the aforesaid owners themselves do not take any steps for demolition of the subject building, the Administration as also the Municipal Council should get the same demolished through the APWD. In respect of other buildings including the building aforesaid, i.e. opposite to the Sinclairs Hotel, before such demolition, however the Administration and the Municipal Council shall give prior notice calling upon the owners of the building to demolish the same on their own and only on failure of such, the APWD and the Municipal Council will take steps for demolition of the same.

Since it appears to us that the owners of the buildings may suffer serious prejudice and financial loss because of such action by Municipal Council and other authorities, the owners of such building are at liberty to file a suit for damage and compensation against such authorities.

The matter stands disposed of Justice Samaresh Banerjea and Justice Pratap Kumar Roy Division Bench/Circuit Bench at Port Blair/Calcutta High Court.

Saying Too Much

Editors accompanying the Prime Minister on jaunts usually get a darshan with the big man. And since Atalji is a man of few words, most scribes end up doing all the talking and deciphering his "hmms". The editor of Rajasthan based daily "Navjyoti "did just that on the recent Europe-Russia trip. Ushered in to meet Vajpayee, the scribe held forth on the drought. The conversation went something like this. Editor: "Sir, we are doing very good work in drought relief". PM: "Hmm". Editor: "The public distribution system is working efficiently." PM: "Hmm." But when the editor ran a story on how the PM had praised the PDS run by Congress CM Ashok Gehlot, it was the state BJP unit that went into shock, especially as polls are just round the corner. The party's CM candidate, Vasundhararaje, has now come crying to Vajpayee. The PM's response: "Who is this man I supposedly spoke to, and why was he in my entourage?" Hmmm...

This story has been published by "Outlook" in its 30th June 2003 issue. One wonders whether the PM's approval on twinning of Port Blair with Phuket is a similar "Hmmm..."

This story has been published by "Outlook" 30th June 2003 issue. One wonders whether the PM approved twinning of Port Blair with Phuket with a similar Hmmmmm...

The Price of the Andaman Trunk Road

On Sunday, 20th July 2003, at about 9.30 am, Ashu, a Jarawa boy aged about 14, was taking a joy ride on a trunk on the ATR, when the truck met with an accident. The driver and the cleaner fled from the scene and have not been traced yet. The Jarawa boy was admitted in Tushnabad Primary Health Centre at about 4 p.m on Sunday.

The news reported by Akashwani, Port Blair on 21st Morning mentioned that a tipper truck and a jeep were found toppled on the road-side and that two Jarawas were injured. Confirmation of an injury to a second Jarawa was not obtained.

An eye witness reported that on Monday , the 21st of July, in the morning a large number of Jarawas (40 to 50 people) in war dress armed with bows and arrows and carrying lighted torches were found going to the spot. The eye witness said that he had never seen Jarawas carrying torches in day light and more than two or three arrows, unlike that day.

While it is not known whether the second vehicle had actually toppled on 20th. It is known that the Jarawa sometimes vent their anger by toppling the vehicle responsible for injuring one of them.

At least two other boys have acquired permanent disability on account of road accidents on the ATR, since they have become friendly in 1999. Kelathe, now a ten year old boy, suffered amputation of a hand in 1999-2000 after having met with an accident. Kelathe's elder brother lost a leg in another road accident in June-July,2000.

According to the Workman's Compensation Act in our country, loss of a hand or a leg is equated with 50% loss of total earning capacity of a person. Two Jarawa youngsters, having suffered 50% loss of earning capacity equals 0.8% of their community of about 250 persons. While the number appears trifling, if its is extrapolated to the rest of India, the impact of the Jarawa community equals the trauma that would be generated if 80 lakh Indians lost a leg or hand each.

Passengers Looted by Jarawa on ATR

Editorial in the "Andaman Agni", on 15th June 2003
Editor Ms. Uma Bharati

A Jarawa person irrespective of his age and sex gets an amount of Rs 2667/- per month as his share of the fund meant for them if the population statistics of the Administration and the Department of the Census is followed. According to sources, every year about Rs. 80 lakh is earmarked for the welfare programme for 250 estimated Jarawas. This amount is much higher than what a daily rated mazdoor gets after a days' hard labour. In one historical incident on 28th of April 2003 three Jarawa tribes reportedly looted a passengers at Gandhi Ghat Jetty for an amount of Rs. 240/-. When the police personnel was approached by the passengers, who, too was a witness to the confrontation, only approached the Jarwa and requested the money back. On his request the Jarawa person was pleased to give some of the currency notes, which amounted to Rs. 110/- back, but kept the rest with him. Truth is stranger than fiction. There is no shop in any Jarawa hermit and village, if at all it exists. What made them to know the value of the colored papers in form of currency notes? How could they know that this is a media for exchange of goods that are available in various shops near Gandhi Ghat jetty? It is none other than those shopkeepers in the vicinity had taught them to bring those colour papers to get the things they wanted. The Jarawas do not know the counting as is reported.

Civilized people have civilized them and forced them to learn all evils of the modern society before bringing them to so-called mainstream of the modern society. And this is what the Andaman Trunk Road has gifted to these tribes. They have learnt filthy Hindi Abuses, eating Jarda Pan, smoking cigarettes and also consuming alcohol, all courtesy ATR. And the so-called Godfathers of these tribes, the AAJVS and the Tribal Directorate were allegedly busy in spending (or making) money under the shadow of the welfare of Jarawas.

Statements of two Great Andamanese Women, Nu and Lichu
as told in a seminar conducted by the Anthropological Surex of India (ASI) in December 2002

Nu:
"I am a resident of Strait Island. The Government apparently seems to do everything for us, they take care of our education, rearing children etc. But they do all this just for earning a name for themselves, that they are taking care of the Tribals. But when we fall sick or we have to visit a doctor, we have to come to Port Blair, and live, move about and feed ourselves at our own expense. The government does nothing. We do not want to rear our children like this. But the Government is not helping us either.

They are now more interested about Jarawas. That is because they are new. That is why they are being looked after well and treated with care. The idea behind all this is to bring them into mainstream like they have done to us. Once the Jarawas are brought into the mainstream their plight will be just like ours. Like we have been left midway on the path.

We want to revert back to our own traditional ways. We have come along too far this way."

Lichu:
"I am a resident of Strait Island. The Government pays us money all right, thousand rupees. But that money is not given to us to solve our problems and meet our need. The money is given to us to produce children. And once they are born who will take care of the rearing? The money given is not sufficient to bring up the children. The Government asks us to increase our numbers. But the money provided for the same doesn't suffice. The health is not taken care of. I am unwell myself. I have had to undergo a heart surgery. Nobody pays for the treatment, though they make big claims.

How are we expected to trust the Tribal Welfare?

The Govt. spends lakhs for our education. But who does that. When we send our children out to study they start drinking. If our children are given good education and sent to boarding schools, they can come back and educate the rest of us. The people in the Tribal Welfare and Health Departments can be replaced by these children, in this way they can understand our problems better than the outsiders. We aren't too many in number. We are just 45 of us. What can we do?"

From NDTV News Report

Statement by Mr. Mukesh Kumar, Secretary, Port Blair Municipal Council.

"People from other parts of the world go to Thailand just for sex because it is easily available there. But in India we have laws and the laws can take care of that."

Mosquito Coils and Cancer:
Eco-friendly mosquito repellent - make it yourself

Mosquito coils are one of the four insecticide products popularly used by Asians, including Indians to protect themselves from disease-carrying mosquitoes. The other three are aerosols, liquid vaporizers and vaporizing mats. Coils are said to be the most inefficient mosquito repellent. Two independent studies indicate that these coils can be disastrous for human health. While one indicates, they contain a cancer-causing substance, the other estimates that a single coil releases particulate matter equal to 75 to 135 cigarettes. In developing countries, middle class families use mosquito coils regularly. Moreover, with the windows kept closed during sleeping hours make people, especially children more vulnerable to the harmful chemicals. Most coils used in the developing world have pyrethroid insecticides, particularly d-allethrin, as the active ingredient. Mosquito coils used in India also have allethrin derivatives such as d-allethrin and d-trans-allethrin as their key ingredients. This is also listed on the wrappers of most brands. Though d-allethrin itself is not harmful, a chemical compound used as synergist (called s-2 or octachlorodipropyl ether) is quite dangerous. The synergist is a chemical substance used to boost the potency of the key ingredient, even though it lacks significant insecticidal character on its own.

Scientists say that the coils are exposing the users to bischloromethyl ether also called as BCME-a potent lung carcinogen. The exposure can occur if the coils are smouldered overnight, which usually is the case.

Experts say that such studies should be reason enough for consumers to switch over to herbal products, which are available in plenty. Those based on neem are used in many parts of India.

In our islands, too mosquito coils are being used widely as repellents. We can also resort to herbal methods instead. A combination of eucalyptus oil and citronella (lemon grass) in the ratio 5:1, can be used a substitute for the liquid vaporizers and since they are volatile, they can be easily dispersed in the air. It gives out a pleasant fragrance too. The local name for citronella, in the Islands is china cha patti. Our Directorate of Health can give a serious thought to implementing indigenous method widely.

'Local-Born Association' Case

WP 138 Of 2003 (Calcutta High Court Circuit Bench)

The Local Born Association and others had moved a PIL before the Hon'ble Circuit Bench of Calcutta High Court at Port Blair pleading the cause of the Law abiding citizens who had applied for allotment of house sites but were not granted in decades. At the same time a large number of encroachers in the forest land are about to be rewarded with allotment of much larger plots of land together with jobs, a lump sum grant of Rs. 75, 000/-, allowances for school going students, free minor forest produce, etc.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Gora Chand De disposed of the case on 8th September 2003, Excerpts from the operative part of the judgement are quoted below:

"Admittedly, with regard to the Post -78 Forest encroachers and the actions to be taken against the encroachments are governed by the time to time orders passed by the Apex Court and as such the entire question is required to be dealt with by the Apex Court and not by this Court. Moreover there are materials to show that already a report has been submitted before the Apex Court in terms of the order passed earlier with regard to the action taken by the Administration for removal of the forest encroachers. So, if the petitioners are anyway aggrieved they shall be at liberty to take appropriate steps at the appropriate forum and not before this Court." ...

"So the respondents authorities are directed to treat the present writ petition as the representation and to dispose of the same by speaking order after giving opportunity of hearing to the present petitioners including the interveners as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of six months from the date of receipt of the copy of this writ petition. Liberty as given to the petitioners to serve a copy of the writ petition to the respondents/administration. The interveners are also given liberty to serve copy of their application to the respondent/administration."

LBA Moves the Supreme Court

Ld. Advocate Muralidharan moved a special Leave Petition before the Hon'ble Supreme Court recently. After hearing both sides, their Lordships directed the SLP to be treated as an interlocutory Application and listed for hearing along with IA number 502/WP 202, the IA moved by SANE, Kalpavriksh, and BNHS. It is understood that the LBA and others will press for a speedy implementation of the SC Orders of 7th May 2002 among other things.

Introduction of Exotic in the Islands

The Andaman & Nicobar Medicinal Plant Board is actively promoting cultivation of stevia (stevia rebaudiana), a medicinal plant from Paraguay (also found in Brazil). The plant is an exotic in these islands. Readers will remember that the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India has banned introduction of cultivation of any exotics in the island ecosystem.

Stevia rebaudiana

  

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