Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Nov 7: Shamsher Hakla Poonchi a prominent Gujjar leader and an intellectual today said that J&K Government should take concrete steps for the welfare and upliftment of Gujjar Bakarwal Tribe on priority basis without which all round development of the UT is not possible.
The Gujjar Bakarwal Tribe has its habitation in 20 districts of UT and they mostly reside in hilly, far-flung and mountainous areas near forests and on the Indo-Pak LOC and International Border (IB), he said.
Hakla said most areas of the Tribe in Jammu and Kashmir lack facilities like road communication, electricity, water supply, medical facilities and educational facilities which put this Tribe in lots of hardships.
He demanded opening of boarding schools in all the districts of J&K on the pattern of Nodya Vidyalaya for boys and girls of the community and also for establishing a Tribal University in J&K for Schedule Tribe students.
Hakla, while stressing on inclusion of Gojri in 8th Schedule of Indian constitution for its upliftment & development said this is the mother tongue of Gujjars and Bakerwals.
He alleged that despite granting of ST Status to Gujjars and Bakerwals in 1991, the community in J&K still were deprived of the benefits which they are entitled to under ST status.
Hakla demanded reservation of the Assembly segments and Lok Sabha segments in J&K for Gujjar Bakarwal Community.
He also demanded that policies and schemes for the permanent settlement and upliftment of some of the unsettled and nomadic people of community be framed who are living as nomadic life and demanded establishment of tribal Development Council in J&K.
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