Excelsior Correspondent
RAMNAGAR, May 1: R S Pathania, MLA Ramnagar, has sought inclusion of ‘Kolis in ST category.
Making a fervent appeal to the central as well as the State Government in this regard, he said that Sippis and Kolis are one caste with identical living, culture, clothing, language, customs and nature of livelihood. “It is disheartening to witness that Gaddis and Sippis enjoy ST status whereas ‘Kolis’ have been kept debarred from it till now,” he said in a statement, issued here today.
Mr Pathania alleged that Gaddis and Sippis have been totally ignored by the previous regimes in all spheres of life and these tribes have been facing the discriminatory, step motherly treatment. “These tribes are having a very low literacy rate and negligible representation in Government jobs and other important assignments,” he added.
At present, there are 12 ethnic groups enjoying ST status in J&K State, out of which eight ST ethnic group viz Balti, Beda, Bot, Boto, Brokpa, Changpa, Garra, Mon, and Purigpa mostly inhabit Ladakh division while remaining four ST group viz Gujjar, Bakerwal, Gaddi and Sippi mostly belong to Jammu division. The Scheduled Tribes of Ladakh division are getting a handsome flow of funds for their development through the medium of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council while the schemes and policies are framed under tribal plan for the development of Gujjars and Bakerwals by the Gujjar and Bakerwal Advisory Board constituted by State Government.
“It is very unfortunate that the population of Gaddi and Sippi Tribes is about 2.5 lakh in J&K State but there is no separate Advisory Board for their development and upliftment,” Mr Pathania said.
He demanded re-start of pre-matric scholarship under ST category for Gaddi and Sippi tribes, establishment of hostels for the students of Gaddi and Sippi tribes at Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur, Chenani, Doda, Ramban, Bhaderwah, Bani, Kathua and Ram nagar, one percent reservation in seats for all professional collages of State for the Gaddi and Sippi students. He also supported the popular demand of the community for enlisting of Gaddi language in sixth schedule of the Constitution of J&K. He also called for immediate construction of S/T Hostels at Basantgarh and Majalta.
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