Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Nov 18: Shamsher Hakla Poonchi a prominent Gujjar leader and intellectual of the State expressed concern over denial of full benefits to Gujjar and Bakerwals of State under the Scheduled Tribe status granted to them way back on April 19 in 1991 by Government of India after recognizing the backwardness of Gujjar and Bakerwal community of this border State.
In a statement issue here, today, he said the President of India granted Scheduled Tribe status by way of ordinance no, 3 of 1991 under Article 342 of the Indian Constitution to them. But after the laps of over 25 years since their grant of Schedule Tribe status the State Government could not implement it in letter and spirit to give its full benefit to Gujjar-Bakarwal community of the State.
He alleged that all the efforts made by Central Government for the development of Gujjar and Bakerwal community of J&K State, have been deliberately obstructed by the State Government for the past many decades which resulted in their utter political, social, economical and educational backwardness of the community.
Hakla made an appeal to Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, for special recruitment in Indian Army ,Border Security Force and Jammu and Kashmir Police for Gujjar Bakerwals. He also appealed to Prime Minister of India to sanction special developmental package for welfare of Gujjar Bakerwal of J&K. It would be only then that their economical, educational, political and social backwardness could be removed.
Follow our WhatsApp channel