Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 12: A Gujjar & Bakerwal convention was held today near J&K Bank, Nowabad, Sunjwan to highlight the problems of the nomadic community.
Member Parliament Romesh Biduri was the chief guest of the function which was presided over by former Minister Abdul Ghani Kohli.
Representatives of Gujjar-Bakerwal community from different districts participated in the convention and in their speeches highlighted the problems and grievances of the nomadic Gujjar-Bakerwal community. The main speakers were Manzoor Ahmed, Mohd Hussain Bajjir, Akhtar Hussain, Molvi Mohd Aalam, Zulfqar Ali, Qari Ali Akbar and others.
The speakers said that a sizeable population of Gujjar-Bakerwal in J&K being nationalist Indians wants to support and join BJP but there are many reasons which come in their way of joining party such as there is neither at bureaucratic level and nor at advisor level any officer acquainted with problems being faced by their community.
They demanded that professional institution like Niti Ayog be entrusted to formulate proposal/projects for the upliftment and development of this community as already done in case of Ladakh UT. They also demanded creation of a Gujjar Scout Regiment to augment existing security forces on borders and set up Model Eklaya institutions in J&K to educate their children.
The speakers also stressed for providing transport facilities to nomadic community while they move to and from Jammu to Kashmir with their cattle and flocks. They further demanded that like rural areas, the Forest committees should be considered under the provision of Forest Right Act in Municipal and tourism spots like Sidhra, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, etc , where Gujjar and Bakerwal are settled since decades.
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