Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Aug 28: The Scheduled Tribe communities of Jammu and Kashmir under the banner of Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF) today demanded that a time bound programme may be formulated to eradicate poverty from nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals .
The ST leaders while speaking in programme organised by the Foundation under the leadership of Dr Javed Rahi urged the State Government to device a plan to fight ”extreme adversities” faced by them due to their migratory way of life and lack of economic freedom.
Pleading help from national and state bodies against absolute poverty among the tribes, Dr Rahi said that the nomadic Gujjars deserve special attention as they were faced with intense hardship due to their tough standard of living, lack of economic liberty and owing to low income and lack of resources.
He said a sustainable poverty eradication programme should be formulated for migratory communities of the State. The nomadic groups were facing the brunt of absolute paucity of resources to run daily affairs, he added.
“We demand education and economic security for the nomadic communities in Jammu and Kashmir,” the speakers said.
“For the past few decades, the tribal economy of the State faced major shakeups due to militancy in upper reaches, rapid development in plain areas and impact of globalisation on their livelihood,” they added.
They called for a sustainable approach of the Centre and State Governments towards “boosting the tribal economy” which is on the “verge of collapse”.
The nomadic groups, mainly Gujjars-Bakerwals, lack the ability to afford basic human needs such as clean and fresh water, nutrition, healthcare, education, clothing and shelter. The foundation also pleaded for an exclusive national plan to eliminate illiteracy among the nomad Gujjars, Dhodhi and Bakerwals.
Those who spoke on the occasion includes Dr Ashraf Chouhan, Wariz
Ali Mohammad, Rafeeq Mohammad Banya, Shabnum Rafeeq Bajran , Ali Hussain Khatana, Bashir Bajad, Haneef Ali Lodha and others.
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