Ch. Rashid Azam Inqlabi
In Poonch Rajouri, there are lush green meadows and coniferous forests that display a rich wealth of flora and fauna. From time immemorial hill folks, pilgrims and Mughals trekked over its hills to Kashmir as it remained the only means of communication. Rajouri – Poonch is separated from Kashmir valley by the Pir Panjal range, whose highest peak Tatakuti standing at 15560 feet, falls in Poonch district and is visible even from across the border on a clear day. This is still a virgin peak challenging adventurers with crystal clear water, the alpine lakes viz. Nandansar, Sukhsar, Neelsar, Katoira Sar, Kaldachnisar, and other thirteen lakes are surrounded by glaciers and snow-capped peaks.
The historical waterfalls, Noori Chammb and Dehra ki Gali attract visitors The visitors: from various parts of Jammu and outside the UT, have conducted innumerable trekking expeditions in the upper reaches of Poonch, as a result, Rajouri and Poonch have now been projected on the tourism map of India. In the local Gojri/ Phari dialect the passes, alpine lakes, and meadows are called Gallies, Sars, and Margs or dhoks respectively. Some of the common dhoks in Poonch are Girjan, Panjtari, Isanwali, Nainsukh, Dharamarg, Pirmarg and Sarimastan etc.
In the district Poonch, Hill Kaka is a remote hamlet located on the southern side of Pir Panjal ranges in the lapse of Tatakuti peak and it takes ten to eleven hours to reach this village from the nearest road head.
Hill Kaka area remained in news in early 2000 as it was infested with terrorism. In a unique operation, the locals fought alongside the Indian Army to flush out terrorists from this village and remained in national and international news. In 2003 the army along with the help of locals started the historic Operation ‘Sarp-Vinash’ in the year 2003. The senior officers of the army recognized the role of locals in bringing peace to the area. The short movie on the operation of Hill Kaka was also released in collaboration with the army. The then defense minister of India and the army general appreciated the role of the people of Hill Kaka in bringing peace to the area. Many local people lost their lives in the operation along with the army. Hill Kaka is the only village in Jammu and Kashmir where women VDC members took part in the operation against the terrorists. The martyrsd of Hill Kaka will be remembered for their sacrifice of life
The inhabitants of Hill Kaka have shared some of their grievances on the telephone with me. A young boy became emotional while telling some incidents in which the people has to carry pregnant women on a cot( charpai) for more than 40 kilometers to reach Surankote hospital. The village is cut off from the rest of the area as it had no road connectivity and transport facility, and lacks electricity, potable water, and Anganwadi activities. It takes a person to reach Surankote at least one day on foot. The medical facility and health care are nowhere in the sight.
They said that lack of medical facility , lack of schooling facility, no road connectivity till date makes their life difficult. The people have to cross the Hill Kaka river on foot more than four times to reach Surankote. Hill Kaka is part of Mora panchayat which is about 40 kilometers from Hill Kaka due to which people cannot get the benefit of Govt scheme.
Presently Hill Kaka was also provided with the facility of a school building since a Government School had been opened here. A room was constructed but unfortunately, the state authorities took no real interest to monitor the school. The teachers have been posted but they are nowhere to be seen. The children are eager to study but the problem is who would teach them. The Education Department of UT Jammu (J&K) has to take the final call. If they do, these children of poor too would be hopping, skipping, and jumping gleefully. The medical staff fails to report for duties in Hill Kaka due to which people suffer, even for first aid people have to come to Surankote.
It was a hell zone till 2004 but now the situation has improved to some extent but requires more attention from the Government. The people do ask here that the administrators is keen to make promises, but we have yet to see even one completed till now, on development, education for our children, and health of the people staying here but where is the deliverance?
Lack of education is one of the main causes of poverty in this remote area of Hill Kaka. Not every person without a formal or nonformal education lives in abject poverty, but several researches have proved that most of those living in extreme poverty do lack basic education. The families living below the poverty line (BPL) most likely keep their children out of school, which means that their future generation will also have a greater chance of living in poverty. Technical and formal education can open the doors for jobs, resources, and skills which in turn lead to Poverty eradication.
The Government of India extended the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006, after August 2019, a progressive piece of legislation that ensures the land tenure, food security, and livelihood of traditional forest dwellers. However, the majority of communities like that of the Gujjar and Bakerwals have actually been treated more harshly than they ever had been before. Even community right is not available to the residents of Hill Kaka. Not only has the rollout of the FRA not provided the nomadic communities with the Act’s promised benefits, but its extension to J&K has actually made life more difficult for them because the Forest Department appears to feel that the legislation challenges its authority.
The local residents are mostly illiterate and poor. They look like a primitive tribal group but are true patriots. Dilpizer Ahmed Kalise of Hill Kaka, Haji Mohd Qassim, Wazir Mohammad, Mohd Rashid, Ab. Haq, Khadam Hussain told the story that in 2003, they fought against militants even with sticks and rods and after the formation of VDC helped the army in clearing the area from militants but Govt is not serious in redressing their grievances, and they are the worst sufferers.
In 2018 General Officer Commanding White Knight Corps Lt Gen Paramjit Singh Sangha visited the Hill Kaka and enquired about the problems of locals. He as a young company commander in Hill Kaka area had participated in counter-insurgency operations in 2003, During the visit, the villagers shared some of their grievances. Army approached Civil Administration and Advisor to the Governor of J&K to have a passionate look at the problems being faced by the locals. As a result of the continued follow-up actions, most of the issues of the locals have been addressed to some extent. The foremost problem of road connectivity was addressed with the commencement of the project for the construction of 14 kilometers road from Bafliaz to Hill Kaka. The project is halfway through with about only 7 kilometers of road constructed but which is not in good condition. This will open avenues for overall development and pave the way for the eradication of grass root level problems being faced by the residents of Hill Kaka.
The Lt Governor Manoj Sinha who is trying his best for redressing the problems of common people is requested to pay special attention to the problems of residents of Hill Kaka. Some of the problems that require immediate attention are as under:
Expedite the work of Bafliaz to Hill Kaka road on a war footing.
* Bifurcation of Hill Kaka from Mora panchayate
* Posting of staff in Hill Kaka medical aid center.
* Providing admission to the children of Hill Kaka, in Gujjar hostel, KGBV, and other schools.
* Opening of fair price shop by food department at this place particularly during summer.
* Providing compensation to residents of Hill Kaka, which Govt of India had promised during the operation ‘Sarp Vinash’ carried out by the Indian army.
* Opening of Angan wari center.
* Schools building at hill kaka
* Including the deserving person in the list of BPL.
* MANREGA budget for people.
* Providing the drinking water and electric facility
* Solar energy.
The Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha is requested to take cognizance of Hill Kaka and also spare time to visit the Hill Kaka personally so that patriots of Hill Kaka feel that the Governor’s administration has special care for them.
The Home Minister, the Defence Minister Govt of India are also requested to issue the direction to the concerned for providing facilities to the people of Hill Kaka so that they feel that the whole nation is behind them.
(The author is a former senior, KAS Officer)
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