Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 21: Maintaining that though Scheduled Tribe status granted to Gujjars and Bakerwals in April 1991 has played a key role in their identity formation, yet this is not enough to develop the tribal communities. The community members demanded equality, fairness, justice and pressed for all those rights which are granted by Govt of India to other tribal communities of India.
These issues were highlighted by the community in a community gathering organized by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation wherein youth, elders, writers and others participated. The programme was attended by elders of tribal communities and presided over by noted Gujjar scholar Dr Javaid Rahi.
The programme was organised to discuss identity formation viz-a-viz Gujjars, Bakerwals. They also discussed the issues of equality, justice, preservation and documentation of centuries old socio-cultural, behavioural, linguistic, ritualistic and primordial traits of J&K Tribes.
Dr Rahi, in his presidential address, stated that though ‘reservation’ has significantly changed the Gujjars and Bakerwal Society since 1991 but a large chunk of tribal population is still reeling under the grip of poverty and backwardness which requires immediate attention.
Regarding identity formation, Dr Rahi said culture is a powerful tool to highlight the vibrant ethnicity of tribal communities especially Gujjars and Bakerwals and there is need to document this old heritage immediately before it got vanish for all.
The other speakers on the occasion said that Gujjars and Bakerwals are still waiting for grant of political reservation to STs, extension of Forest Right Act 2006 to J&K, SC/ST Atrocities Act etc available to other states. They demanded equal rights. They said the other issues of Gujjar tribes are their economic stability, food security, rehabilitation, health and livestock survivals which needs immediate steps to address.
Those who also spoke include Ishtiyaq Chowdhary, Ch Shabir Poswal, Haq Nawaz Bokan, Ch Hassan Din, Mehmood Ali Chouhan, Karamat Hussain, Tajamal Hussain, Talib Hassain and others.
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