Lone, Ansari seek Guv’s assent to reservation bill

JAMMU: A day after 10% quota for upper castes became a law in entire country, a two-member People's Conference delegation, led by its chairman Sajjad Gani Lone, Sunday sought Governor Satya Pal Malik’s assent to the J&K Reservation Amendment Bill, which was passed in the state legislative assembly before the fall of the PDP-BJP government last year and is pending Governor’s approval ever since.
Lone along with his close associate Imran Raza Ansari met the governor at the Raj Bhavan and also discussed various development issues of their respective areas, an official spokesman said.

“Discussing the issue of reservation to Paharis and economically weaker sections of society, the former ministers sought the governor's assent to the J&K Reservation Amendment Bill,” he said.

“The bill was passed by the state legislature during their ministership,” the spokesman said.

The legislative assembly passed the landmark bill in February last year to extend three per cent reservation benefits to the Pahari speaking people in the state.

The delegation also stated their demands for sanctioning a water supply scheme for Parihaspora, expanding the Imambara, Zaidibal and compensation to victims of Handwara fire incident, the spokesman said.

He added that they also sought early redressal of issues related of a fruit mandi association in Sopore.
The governor urged Lone and Ansari to continue their endeavours for promoting public welfare and development works in their respective areas.

Meanwhile, the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF), an organisation representing the Gujjar community, urged the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday to formulate a compact programme to eradicate poverty among nomadic tribes.

The organisation also sought inclusion of the nomadic population in the blow-poverty line (BPL) list and demanded food security for them.

"Gujjar and Bakerwal communities being nomads are not properly aware of the schemes being launched by state and central governments to uplift them socially, economically, educationally and culturally under Scheduled Tribe category.

"Poverty is growing rapidly among nomadic tribes as they are relinquishing their nomadic life and opting for unskilled labour and poverty eradication programmes are required for them immediately," TRCF founder Javaid Rahi said at a function here.

The TRCF leader said lakhs of members of nomadic tribes, mainly Gujjar, Bakerwal, Gadii, Sippi and Changpa, migrate along with their cattle to upper reaches annually and are not available at one place like other communities to take ration and other benefits.

"Due to their wandering way of life, the tribes not only face food scarcity but also come across acute shortage of basic facilities, absolute illiteracy and lack of health facilities," he said, demanding an innovative scheme for nomads be designed keeping in view their lifestyle for their overall development.