Former Minister, Peace Foundation chief, Gujjars’ deputation call on Governor

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 30 : Abdul Gani Vakil, former Minister, called on N. N. Vohra, Governor, at Raj Bhavan here today.
Mr. Vakil discussed with the Governor various matters relating to the measures need to be taken for the growth of Horticulture sector, particularly the need to establish fruit processing units in the State, for ensuring value addition and generating employment. He added that measures for enlarging cold storage facility and establishing a cold chain would benefit the growers.
Among the other matters which Mr. Vakil discussed with the Governor included augmentation of water and power supply and all required measures being taken for securing the speedy economic development of the State.
A deputation of the Gujjar and Bakarwal community from the Kashmir Valley also called on Vohra and presented to him a memorandum of their demands.
The demands presented by the 6-member deputation, included, interalia, provision of political reservation for Gujjar and Bakarwal community in the State, opening of more Mobile Schools for facilitating the education of children of the community, appointment of youth of the community as Rehbar-e-Taleem, effective implementation of Tribal Sub-Plan and various other Centrally-Sponsored Schemes, launching a special drive for recruitment of Gujjar and Bakarwal youth in the Police and establishment of Gujjar and Bakarwal Bhawans at Srinagar and Jammu.
Other demands presented by the delegation included augmenting water and power supply and other civic amenities in the Gujjar and Bakarwal habitations, particularly in the remote areas of the State.
The Governor heard the deputationists patiently and observed that the issues raised by them would be duly taken up with the concerned authorities in the State Government.
The deputation comprised Ch. Mohammad Munshi Gorsi, Ch. Mohammad Yasin Poswal, Haji Nazir Ahmad, Ch. S. D. Bajad, Ch. Mohammad Sharif and Mian Javed Nizami.
Meanwhile, Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Peace Foundation, briefed Governor about the various activities of the Foundation, all of which are aimed at promoting peace and strengthening communal harmony in the State.
Mr. Bhat gave details of the programmes organized by the Foundation in the recent past and those planned for the coming months to secure the objectives of peace and harmony. He stated that the Foundation is organizing a Peace and Communal Harmony Conference at Srinagar on 2nd October 2013 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. The Peace Foundation is also taking various initiatives for strengthening communal harmony in the State and organizing conferences and seminars for this purpose. The Governor complimented Mr. Bhat and his colleagues for the laudable initiatives being taken by the Foundation which would contribute towards ushering the State into an era of lasting peace and harmony.