Excelsior Correspondent
LAKHANPUR, Jan 8: The new laws extended to Jammu and Kashmir especially Forest Rights Act 2006 will end marginalization of tribes especially Gujjars, Bakerwals, Gaddis and Sippis which they were facing since centuries.
This was stated by noted tribal Researcher Dr Javaid Rahi during an awareness programme about implementation of Forest Right Act held here this afternoon.
The programme was presided over by Dr Mohammad Yunas President International Gurjar Maha Sabha J&K and Choudhary Mohammad Farooq Bakerwal while a large number of Gujjars, Bakerwals and Gaddis were present.
Dr Javaid Rahi in his address stated that there are nearly one million tribal and other traditional forest dwellers in Jammu and Kashmir who derive their livelihoods mainly from forest resources and till few days back they were treated as encroachers of the land on which they live since centuries. He said after proper implementation Forest Right Act 2006 in J&K the fate of Tribes will be changed forever and they shall hold their head high.
He said new laws including FRA, SC/ST Atrocities Act, Delimitation to reserve Constituencies for Tribes, Conservation Act 1980, Amendments in Panchayati Raj Act will pull out the Tribes from marginalization and social exclusions.
He said due to new laws 38 persons from Gujjar community have been elected to first-ever District Development Council elections in Jammu and Kashmir comprises of total 280 members in 20 Districts.
Dr Yunus said the effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, which recognises the individual as well as community rights over forest resources, should have ended the historical injustice caused to the tribal by erstwhile governments.
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