Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced Independence Day gifts for the people of his State. Surely there is some good news. Some of the sections of people will be bestowed reservation in OBC category which will help them in improving the quality of their life. The Pahari speaking people need incentive to raise the standard of education, employment and other facilities. In a welfare state the weaker sections of society need crutches till they come to a level at par or near par with other better placed sections of society. The recommendation made by the State Government to the Centre for recognizing Pahari speaking people as Scheduled Tribes is the right thing that needed to be done. That would be a real boon to this community.
Another gift that will impact all sections of society is reduction in the electricity duty from 22 per cent to 10 per cent. This appears to be a brave decision because generally electric department complains of deficit in revenues and recommends ways and means of increasing the tariff etc. This step of the Chief Minister will be hailed by one and all.
Pahari speaking people are scattered over a vast area extending to both Kashmir and Jammu region. They are perhaps the largest group who live in the mountain fastnesses but are not migratory in nature as the Bakarwals are. The fact is that granting them Scheduled Tribe status is belated. It should have been granted many years ago. However it is better late than never. The State Government is determined to improve the lot of this neglected section of the society in the State. While speaking to the media, he candidly said that he has announced some perks which he has the authority to do but some more perks which he would have really liked to announce could not be given because they do not fall within the ambit of his powers. However he said he would interact with the authorities to see that more facilities are provided to the people.
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