Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 27: BJP Senior leader and MLC Vibodh Gupta today called on Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and requested for expediting the process for the grant of Scheduled Tribe Status to the Pahari speaking community of Rajouri, Poonch, Uri and Karnah.
During the meeting Vibodh informed the Chief Minister that for the overall development of this poor and marginalized community ST status will play a important role. He stressed that since the grant of ST status to the pahari speaking people is also there in the agenda of the alliance of the Coalition Government so all sincere and concerted efforts be made to meet this long pending demand of the community. During the meeting Vibodh said that besides the grant of ST status many more measures need to be initiated for the inclusive development of this community and areas where these people live.
While highlighting the other demands Vibodh informed the CM that in Thanamandi, Taryat and Kotrenka areas of Rajouri, the community health centers without specialists and other basic facilities. He demanded that these community health centers need to be upgraded to sub district hospital with necessary manpower and infrastructure as this will also ease pressure from the district hospital at Rajouri. Vibodh also demanded early release of Rs. one crore already agreed for the face lifting of Rajouri town. This he said will go a long way in promoting tourism in the area as Rajouri has huge tourism potential.
Ms. Mehbooba Mufti said that the final ST status is to be granted by the Central Government. She further added that Government will send a recommendation on this to the Central Government so that ST status can be granted to the Pahari speaking people of J&K. She said that for the State to progress upliftment of all the underprivileged sections of the society is must. MLC Vibodh Gupta thanked the Chief Minister for her support towards various genuine demands of the Paharis.
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