Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: Jammu and Kashmir Batwal Welfare Association (JKBWA) held a meeting under the chairmanship of its President Subedar Major (Retd) Romesh Sargotra.
While speaking, Sargotra said that in 1994, the Central Government while conducting the ethnographic study of Batwal Community members had assured that all efforts would be taken to uplift the Batwals from a state of utter degradation but 26 years have elapsed no step has yet been taken by the Government to enhance their economic position.
Sargotra further stated that Batwals have no effective say and are just considered as sub human beings. The reason is that they have not been provided any representation in any forum of the Government while the members of its sister communities have rotationally enjoyed the same, he added.
He also stated that a series of memorandums have been submitted to both Union as well as the State Government in the last 65 years but the Government never considered them.
The Association, as such, through a fresh memorandum urged the Lieutenant Governor J&K UT to take up the matter with Central Government and ask it to sanction to Batwals a special economic package so that their economic position is enhanced and they could live with dignity like other evolved products of the society.
The Association was also urged the Lieutenant Governor to give representation to Batwals in SAC and other forums.
Prominent among those who attended the meeting included RL Kaith, Kamal Singh Kaith, Kamal Chand Motan, Des Raj Kaith, Gunni Ram Kaith, Diley Ram Kaith, Om Parkash Tugga, Tilak Raj Bassa, Ram Lal Lakhotra, Ram Lal Sargotra, Mela Ram Tugga, Baldev Chand Sandhu, Rashpal Lakhotra, Baljeet Kaith, Narayan Dass Bassa, Chanchal Singh, Uttam Chand Sandhu, Gurdas Chand Sargotra and BuaDitta.
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