Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 1: A 9-member delegation of the Bhartiya Gujjar Mahasabha, J&K Chapter, met N. N. Vohra, Governor, at Raj Bhavan, here today.
The main demands presented to the Governor by the delegation led by Eshfaq-ur-Rehman Poswal, State president of the organization, include provision of political reservation for the Gujjar and Bakerwal Tribes in the State, organizing of special recruitment drives for youth of the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities in Army and Para-Military Forces, raising a Gujjar Regiment in the Army, setting up of more Mobile Schools and providing insurance cover to the livestock of Gujjars and Bakerwals to compensate for the losses of cattle suffered by them due to natural calamities.
The Governor heard the delegation patiently and said that the demands presented by them would be taken up with the State Government.
The delegation comprised Ch. Nek Alam, vice president of the organization, Ch. Abdul Hamid Kassana, general secretary, Mohammad Anwar, Sofi Alam Din, Haji Abdul Wahid, Ch. Sanaullah, Ch. Mohammad Azam and Mohammad Shabbir.
A deputation of the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation Jammu also called on Mr Vohra and presented to him a memorandum of their demands.
The demands presented by the 7-member deputation led by Dr. Javaid Rahi, Secretary, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, included, inclusion of Gojri language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India, establishment of a Tribal University in Jammu and Kashmir, setting up of a Research Centre for Gojri language in Jammu University, reservation in employment and admissions to various courses in the Kashmir University and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University for the Scheduled Tribes and opening of Gojri Department in the Kashmir University.
Other demands projected by the deputation included telecasting of Gojri news bulletin from Doordarshan Jammu and Srinagar and enhancing the time slots of Gojri programmes from various stations of both Radio and Doordarshan Kendras in the State.
Dr. Rahi also briefed the Governor about the activities of the Foundation and presented to him his latest book, “The Gujjar Tribe of Jammu and Kashmir”, a compendium of research articles on history, culture and economy of Gujjar community.
The Governor assured the deputation that the issues raised by them would be taken up with the concerned authorities at the Centre and in the State Government.
The deputation comprised Ch. Abdul Gani Arif, Ghulam Sarwar Chohan, Ch. Amin Qammar, Dr. Shah Nawaz, Ch. Hameed Kassana and Ch. Talib Hussain, all writers.
Follow our WhatsApp channel