Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 19: Celebrating 25th year of Schedule Tribe Status granted to Gujjar-Bakerwal Tribes of Jammu and Kashmir by Government of India, in a programme organized by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF), the speakers pleaded that tribal communities should be fortified with more special rights and extra constitutional safeguards in the State on the lines of STs of other Indian States.
Dr Javaid Rahi, Secretary, Tribal Foundation who chaired the meeting said there is a visible change in the developmental scenario of Gujjar –Bakerwal community after they got ST status but a lot is required to be done for their upliftment. He impressed upon the community members to chalk out a strategy to fight against illiteracy and poverty. He asserted that the community should primarily work for economic stability and food security for nomads and also work to solve rehabilitation, health and livestock issues.
He said ‘Reservation’ granted to Gujjar-Bakerwal community of J&K under ST category some 25 year back was not an aid or a charity to but it was the right of the tribe. He impressed upon the community to strive hard to get benefits of the ST status and opt to serve Government of India services too.
Ch Ghulam Sarwar Chouhan, vice president, TRCF, stated that there is only one Gujjar MLC among 36 members in Legislative Council which is a sort of injustice with tribe. He urged upon the coalition to nominate at least 6 to 8 members of community for Council proportionate to their population which constitute 20% of total population of the State.
Later, a seven point resolution was unanimously adopted by the community members. The resolutions mooted grant of political reservation to STs in State Assembly/Council and Parliament like other states of India granted to STs, inclusion of Gojri in the eighth schedule of India, extension of Forest Right Act 2006 to J&K, food security for nomads, provision of free and doorstep education to nomadic Gujjar-Bakerwal children, adequate representation to Tribal Officers in State administration and police and enhanced reservation for Gujjar /Bakerwals (STs) in professional colleges.
It was decided that the resolution will be sent to Prime Minister of India and State Chief Minister shortly.
Those who also spoke on the occasion were Ch Ahmed Din Poswal, Ch Hamad Khatana, Haq Nawaz, Ch HD Parvaz, Mehmmod Ali Chouhan, Karamat Hussain, Tajamal Hussain and Talib Hassain.
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