Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Oct 27: Maintaining that development and upliftment of Gujjars and Bakerwals is the need of the hour for the holistic development of the UT of J&K as envisioned by PM Narendra Modi, prominent Gujjar leader, Shamsher Hakla Poonchi urged the Government to take concrete steps for the welfare and upliftment of Gujjar -Bakarwal Tribe of J&K.
In a statement issued here, today he said the Gujjar Bakarwal Tribe has its habitation in 20 districts of J&K and mostly reside in hilly, far-flung and mountainous areas or on the Indo-Pak, LOC and International Border (IB) but in most areas they lack facilities like road communication, electricity, water supply schemes, medical facilities and educational facilities which put them in lot of hardships and problems.
He demanded for opening of boarding schools in all the districts of J&K on the pattern of Navodya Vidyalaya for the student of community and also for establishing a Tribal University in J&K for Gujjar Bakarwal (Schedule Tribe) students. He also demanded inclusion of Gojri language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution and the J&K State Government should make a recommendation to the Government of India in this regard.
Hakla demanded reservation for STs in Assembly segments and Parliamentary constituencies in J&K as per the norms of ST status granted to the Gujjars and Bakerwals in 1991 by GoI. He said all the efforts made by GoI for the development and welfare of Gujjar Bakarwal Tribe of J&K, have been deliberately obstructed by the previous J&K Governments.
He demanded that policies and schemes be framed for the permanent settlement and upliftment of some of the unsettled and nomadic people of the Tribe in J&K and stressed on establishment of a Tribal Development Council in the UT.
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