Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 24: Minister for Transport, Abdul Gani Kohli today said the coalition government is focusing on development of weaker sections of the society for which a number of reformative measures are being initiated at various levels.
“The focus of the coalition government is to focus on the people who have been, so far, neglected to get due share in progress and prosperity”, the Minister maintained while speaking as chief guest at National Gujjar Samellan at Gurjjar Desh Charitable Trust (GDCT) today.
Being organized by Akhil Bhartiya Gujjar Mahasabha, the event was joined by scores of Gujjars and Bakerwals from across the country.
Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Krishan Lal Gujjar was special guest on the occasion.
Appreciating the organizers of the event, Mr Kohli said that such events provide an appropriate forum to hold deliberations on novel initiatives for economic emancipation of downtrodden and weaker sections of the society.
The Minister said that dress, ornaments and tribal crafts join together to create an identity which is unique and exclusive in the sense that no other community identifies with any of them. “The mission of the coalition Government is to bring Gujjars to the level of their past glory and prepare them for challenges of the future,” he added.
Listing the welfare initiatives designed for the empowerment of tribal population, the Minister asked the people to come forward and avail the benefits being provided under various State as well Central sponsored schemes. He also asked the members of the community to adopt modern techniques in their traditional occupation to raise their economic condition.
Underscoring the need for integrated development of weaker sections of the society, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Krishan Lal Gujjar said that socio-economic conditions of Gujjars, Bakerwals, and other Tribals needed to be catapulted for their balanced growth and progress. In this regard he said that Government is making all out efforts to uplift the socio-economic condition of the community in providing educational and other infrastructural facilities to them.
He assured the Gujjars that he will take up their issues with Union Government as welfare of the Gujjars who constitute 25 lakh population of the State is must for its overall progress and development. He said the Gujjars are nationalists by core and they kept the flag of secularism atop in the State.
Anam Choudhary who organized the programme on behalf of Akhil Bharatiya Gujjar Maha Sabha while highlighting the demands stressed on political reservations for Gujjars on the pattern of SCs in the State. He also demanded establishment of colonies for nomadic Gujjars and reviewing of new recruitment policy which is inimical to the interests of gujjar community youth.
He said Gujjar community is pinning high hopes in the BJP and both State and Union governments should take drastic steps for the welfare and upliftment of the community in the State as well as the country.
On the occasion various speakers pin-pointed certain important issues pertaining to the welfare and development of Gujjar, Bakerwals, and other tribal people. Responding to them, Minister assured them all their genuine demands would be addressed in phased manner.
The Samelan was presided over by Dr Yashvir Choudhary national president of the Mahasabha and among others it was also addressed by its State president Sardar Khan Bhomla.
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