Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Nov 30: Vice Chairman, State Advisory Board for Development of Gujjars and Bakerwals, Choudhary Zaffar Ali Khatana today visited Gujjar-Bakerwal Basti, Basantpur and listened to the demands and problems of locals.
Members of the Board, Sardar Khan, Ch Anwar, Ch Gulzar Ali Khatana and Haji Abdul Hamid accompanied the Vice-Chairman.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice Chairman said that the Gujjar Bakerwal community is facing challenge since the grazing grounds are shrinking to great extent with time. He said short of grazing meadows is one of the reasons for migration of nomads towards forests. He demanded implementation of Forest Act to save the nomads from any harassment.
Khatana, listing the priorities of the State Government, said it has laid special focus to provide water, electricity, roads, healthcare and education to the downtrodden Gujjar and Bakerwal community.
The VC highlighted the Government’s initiatives for the community, adding that it has sanctioned 11 new Hostels and proposed to make provision for 1 boarding school in each district to provide educational opportunities to the children of the community.
He said DDCs have been asked to furnish the demography of community so that funds are expended in accordance to it.
The locals projected problems and demands including provision for ration cards, PRC and ST quota in government services as per population.
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