Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 25: Maintaining that grant of political reservation to Scheduled Tribes of Jammu and Kashmir in State Assembly, District Development Councils and other bodies will defiantly empower the weaker section especially Gujjar Tribe which form third largest ethnic group after Kashmiri and Dogras, Dr Javaid Rahi – noted tribal researcher a today said such steps will not only end the discriminations but start a new era of progress for tribes.
In a prgramme organised by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation on the topic ‘ ‘Socio-Political empowerment of SC/STs’, Dr Rahi said that the Article 334 of the Constitution of India which also provide provisions relating to the reservation of seats for the SCs and STs in Legislative Assemblies and other bodies gives equal rights to down trodden communities to become an integral part of democratic process.
“Gujjars along with other tribes of Jammu and Kashmir are eagerly waiting for the implementation of Delimitation Commission set up by the Central Government to redraw parliamentary and assembly constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir and recommend a percentage of constituencies to be reserved for Scheduled Tribes, Dr Rahi said and added that the SC/STs largely welcomes the new amendments incorporated in Panchayati Raj Act by making provision for reservation for SCs, STs and women in the DDCs of Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Rahi said political reservation will not only provide a sense of participation to tribal Gujjars, Bakerwals, Gaddis and others but it will also boost a confidence level among tribes by making them socially , culturally and politically relevant.
He said identity, is a main issue for tribes and political empowerment will safeguarded distinctiveness of STs.
The other speakers said that the countrywide laws for Scheduled Tribes which were extended to Union Territory of J&K through an Act of the Parliament of India titled “Jammu and Kashmir Re-organisation Act, 2019” on August 5, 2019, needs immediate implementations especially its part about ‘Political Reservation’ . It will help tribes to get due representation in J&K Assembly and other bodies.
Ishtiaq Misbah, Ibrar Choudhary, Zulkarnain and others also spoke on the occasion.
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