Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Jan 22: Pahari Tribe (PT) ST Forum organised signature campaign here demanding ST status for downtrodden and marginalized Pahari people.
The Forum has cleared that the campaign in first phase shall be extended to all the 30 blocks of twin border districts of Rajouri-Poonch where about 74 per cent PT people live and in second phase it shall be taken to rest of the blocks.
Following COVID Appropriate Behaviour prominent locals across Poonch came to Dak Bungalow Poonch to support the demand delayed since 1989.
“It is unfortunate that helpless and poor people of PT are struggling for genuine right,” Forum leaders claimed.
Several PT personalities and other members of the community at Poonch took part in convention followed by a signature campaign for demand of ST status to Pahari community.
A handout stated that a detailed socio-economic survey was conducted under Prof. (Dr.) Pirzada Mohammad Amin Committee which was approved by J&K Govt and sent to GOI and its recommendations categorically stated that there is a desperate need to mainstream the community.
Those from 11 different blocks of Poonch who registered their signatures and were included in the Central body of the Forum in district Poonch were Sohail Malik (DDC member from Poonch), Lokesh Sharma, Sanjeev Sharma, Nadeem Rafiq Khan, Sudershan Sharma and many more.
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