Gujjars appeal Govt to develop J&K tribes on prototype of other States

JAMMU: Enlisted in Scheduled Tribe of India in 1991, the Gujjars & Bakerwals today demanded that State Government must adapt the model of other States to develop and rehabilitate the nomadic tribe.
They urged to introduce new Acts or similar laws, which are applicable on tribes living in other States of India including HP, which in many ways possessed of identical topography like J&K. The community members told this while attending a programme of Tribal scholars organised by Tribal Research & Cultural Foundation, which was presided over by noted Gujjar scholar, Dr. Javaid Rahi. The speakers urged to rehabilitate tribal communities legally and constitutionally in the areas belonging to their tribe since centuries. They called for recognition of their primitive culture and extending all the rights to J&K tribes, which are granted in other States of country.
In his presidential address, Dr. Javaid Rahi said that Gujjars and Bakerwals, which constitute 80% of the total tribal population of the State, are struggling hard to get proper education, health care and rehabilitation due to their nomadic life style, habitat in hilly areas and ongoing turmoil of the State.
The speakers while addressing the programme sought the intervention of Prime Minister and Chief Minister to extend tribal friendly Acts to J&K or bring identical legal provision in the State Constitution of Jammu & Kashmir for tribes.
Dr. Mohd Din Chowdhary, Din Mohd, Khadam Hussain, Rana Mir Mohd, Mohd Rizwan also spoke on the occasion.