Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 30: In a significant move, main Scheduled Tribes Gujjars-Bakerwals of Jammu and Kashmir today demanded “Primitive Tribal Group” status which grants a separate share in reservation for most unprivileged groups fall under tribal category.
The demand was projected in a memorandum, signed by all the dignitaries of community, which was sent to President of India Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi through Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation –a frontal organization of Gujjars. The community through memorandum pleaded that they should be fortified with more special rights and extra constitutional safeguards in the State.
In order to highlight the issue, a meeting of Tribal Gujjars and Bakerwals was held under the chairmanship of noted tribal researcher, Dr Javaid Rahi. Elders from tribes, youths and scholars were present on the occasion.
In his address Dr Javaid Rahi informed the meeting that as per the existing norms of Ministry of Tribal Affairs , Government of India any ST group whose livelihood is based on primitive agriculture, forest, milk products- a low-value economy are entitled to get ‘Primitive Tribal Groups’ (PTGs) status with bifurcation of their share in reservation and development. So far eighty five tribal communities in India have been identified as PGTs from different States and in J&K no group fall in this category, he said and added being nomads and poverty hit community the Gujjars and Bakerwal deserves to be inducted in the list of PGTs.
The memorandum pleaded that the Gujjars and Bakerwals which constitute 80% of tribal population of J&K are as per 2011 census listed as most illiterate, poor and backward and being marginalized among STs, they deserve special attention and a fair deal from the Centre and state.
The community memorandum pleaded that the Gujjars and Bakerwals are not as advanced to compete with other 12 tribes especially those eight tribes lives in different districts including the Ladakh region who envoy better educational and livelihood facilities then Gujjars.
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