Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 3: The Adivasi Congress unit of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh in significant meeting held in Jammu under the chairmanship of Victor Dhissa, Incharge of Adivasi Congress for the region, focused on the issues of Tribal communities.
The conference emerged as a powerful platform to highlight the long-pending socio-economic, educational, and political concerns of Tribal communities, with special emphasis on the Gujjar, Bakerwal, and Pahari population.
Victor Dhissa, in his address, reiterated the commitment of the Adivasi Congress to fight for the rights of marginalized tribal populations and called for targeted government policies to uplift the Gujjar, Bakerwal, and Pahari communities. He stressed that inclusive development and equitable representation are essential for social justice.
The meeting witnessed the participation of several prominent leaders and social figures, including former Minister Shabir Ahmed Khan, Chairman of the Pahari Tribe; Hussain Ali Wafa, Chairman of the Gujjar Tribe , and Ch Rashid Azam Inqlabi, former Deputy Commissioner. Their collective voices reflected the deep-rooted issues faced by Tribal communities and called for immediate and result-oriented interventions.
These speakers strongly emphasized that the Gujjar and Pahari communities, despite being among the largest and most historically significant tribal groups in Jammu and Kashmir, continue to face systemic neglect and marginalization. The Gujjar community, in particular, being the third-largest population in the Union Territory, has not been given adequate representation in the organizational structure of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee or its frontal wings. This lack of political inclusion was described as a serious injustice that needs urgent correction.
The conference highlighted multiple pressing issues affecting tribal life, including poor access to quality education, lack of healthcare facilities, inadequate road connectivity, scarcity of drinking water, and limited employment opportunities under schemes like MGNREGA. Additionally, denial or delay in old-age pensions for tribal elders was raised as a grave concern. Special focus was laid on the educational backwardness of Tribal areas.
Senior Congress leader Babu Khan, eeligious scholar Qari Ali Akbar, Haji Bhag Ali Khatana and Shokat Ali Banya also addressed the gathering.
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