Hakla for concrete policy for upliftment of Nomads

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Dec 9: Urging the Government to take immediate steps for the upliftment of Gujjars and Bakerwals who are the major constituent of the population of J&K UT, Shamsher Hakla Poonchi a prominent Gujjar leader and intellectual said without the upliftment of this Nomadic Tribe the all round development of J&K will remain a distant dream.
Addressing a meeting of the community in Bandi Chechian near here, today he said Gujjars and Bakawals reside in 20 districts of the UT and majority of them live in hilly and backward areas near forests and on Indo-Pak and International Border (IB).
He said most of their habitation lack basic amenities like roads, electricity, water supply, medical and educational facilities due to which they face many hardships and which has been main impediment of their progress.
He demanded opening of boarding schools in their areas on pattern of Navodiya Vidyalayas and establishing a Tribal University for them.
Hakla, while stressing on inclusion of Gojri in the 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution said it is the mother tongue of the community. He alleged despite being granted ST status in 1991, the community in J&K is still deprived of its benefits. He demanded reservation of Assembly and Lok Sabha seats for the community.
He also demanded that a concrete policy be framed for the settlement of nomadic Gujjars wandering from one place to another for shelter.