Excelsior Correspondent
ANANTNAG, June 30: In order to discuss the issues which are being faced by the members of Gujjar and Bakerwal community, a meeting of Gujjar-Bakerwal Conference (GBC) was held here today.
The meeting held under the chairmanship of Choudhary Ajaz Ahmed Khan, former Minister witnessed participation from delegates representing Anantnag, Srinagar, Pulwama and other adjoining areas.
The members of community raised several urgent and long-standing issues concerning the Gujjar and Bakerwal tribal communities and demanded action from the Government on a priority basis.
Highlighting their demands, the members demanded for the constitution of a Tribal Advisory Group within the Tribal Affairs Department, to be headed by the Minister of Tribal Affairs.
They emphasized that tribal welfare and development cannot be left solely to the discretion of MLAs, many of whom are not adequately familiar with the problems faced by nomadic and forest-dwelling communities.
Members argued that the tribal population needs dedicated representation through an institutional body to ensure effective policy planning and execution.
Another major concern raised was the recent order by the Finance Department placing tribal funds at the disposal of MLAs.
Ch Ajaz Ahmed Khan strongly criticized this move, stating that such a mechanism sidelines the actual needs and priorities of the tribal population.
He insisted that tribal-specific works must only be taken up after proper identification and recommendation by the concerned Tribal Advisory Group.
Delegates demanded immediate financial assistance to those families whose cattle perished during recent unexpected snowfalls and hailstorms on high mountain peaks.
They called upon the administration to release relief funds under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) without delay.
Among others who attended the conference included president GBC, Mohd Yousaf Majnu, secretary Yasin Poswal, provincial secretary Maulana Abul Wahid, Qari Abdul Rehman, Farooq Khattana, Tahir, Mohd Younis Chichi, Amjad Khattana, Yar Mohammad (Pulwama), Qari Shafi Sahib, Mohd Akram (Udhampur), Altaf Nizami, Habib Ur Rehman, Javeed Ahmed (Mahore), Master Naseem (Gulabgarh) and Riaz Ahmed Poswal.
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