Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, July 20: A crucial Focus Group Discussion (FGD), part of an ICSSR-sponsored research project, was held today at the meeting hall, Sifar Cafe, Poonch, bringing together voices from marginalized communities to explore the real-world impact of constitutional reforms in Jammu & Kashmir.
The study, titled “Constitutional Reforms and Marginalized Groups: A Socio-Legal Analysis in Reorganized J&K,” is being conducted under the supervision of Prof. Arvind Jasrotia, Department of Law, University of Jammu. It focuses on Scheduled Tribes (STs), Women and Persons Displaced from Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK).
Dr. Kartika Bakshi, Research Assistant, opened the session, emphasizing the importance of FGDs in capturing ground realities. Discussions covered key issues such as welfare and rehabilitation, education, reservations, governance and representation in local decision-making.
Participants included prominent voices from civil society, bar associations, NGOs, education and social activism, including Adv. Mohd. Zaman, Taj Mir, Adv. Sunil Sharma, Neetu Sharma and others.
In his message, Prof. Jasrotia noted, “This dialogue is essential to understand how constitutional changes are being experienced by the region’s most vulnerable. Their lived realities provide the empirical base needed for socio-legal assessment.” The study aims to inform future policy and strengthen rights-based governance in J&K.
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