Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 18: Gujjars and Bakarwals today held a protest demonstration here at Press Club demanding extension of ‘Forest Rights Act 2006’ enacted by India to Jammu and Kashmir State.
The protest was organized by local nomadic Gujjar-Bakarwal community which pleaded to grant them the rights on forest lands which are constitutionally granted to other scheduled tribe community residing across the country.
The protestors stated that the tribes of Jammu and Kashmir are discriminated by successive Governments and demanded that they be treated at par with other ST communities of India.
They said the tribal in other states of India are entitled for ”title rights” and ownership to land which is being cultivated by them since long but the Government of Jammu and Kashmir is making mockery of our rights as Schedule Tribes.
They demanded that each family of Tribal and forest dwellers of J&K be allotted four hectares land (as per Act) with “Use rights” to grazing areas, to pastoralist routes, etc.
The speakers said no identical act is available to nomadic tribes of State since 2006 when Forest Rights were implemented in whole India.
They said that more than 40% of total population of Gujjars and Bakarwals are landless and deserves dwelling rights on forest lands which they are using as traditional inhabitants since centuries together.
Those who spoke on the occasion included Ch Faiz Bokan, Ch Shafi Pajwala, Ch Shabir, Haji Mohammad Faiz Bokda, Mohammad Ashraf, Mohammad Ismail Poswal and others.
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