Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, July 26: Jammu and Kashmir Pahari People Movement (JKPPM) organized a seminar on Pahari Ethnic Culture at Ghambir, here.
The seminar was presided over by senior Pahari leader Shamim Ahmed, whereas Advocate Vijay Kochhar, provincial general secretary, Pahari Forum and Rehman Mirza, provincial chief organizer were guests of honor.
The speakers expressed their views and highlighted the challenges being faced by the community at present due to the indifferent attitude of Government.
Shahbaz Khan, Chief Executive, JKPPM while speaking said that the Pahari people of these border districts (Rajouri and Poonch) have become economically backward with 46 per cent of the population living below the poverty line.
“49 per cent families are without power, 23 per cent without drinking water facilities, 73 per cent families continue to reside in Kachha houses, 79 per cent make do without flush latrines, 29 per cent villages are yet to be connected through roads, and nearly 9000, educated unemployed wander in search of jobs”, he added.
‘There are no medium or large scale industrial units, no hydel power projects and only limited commercial avenues are available to the people”, he said, adding that there is less than 1 per cent representation of the region in the Secretariat.
He stated that the Government should realize the seriousness of issues and backwardness of Pahari people. He demanded grant of ST Status without further delay.
Shahbaz Khan also appealed to the Pahari youth of the State to be united for ongoing struggle of ST Status launched statewide by JKPPM and RPA.
Chairman RPA Vikrant Sharma and State president Pahari Student Union Abdul Qadir Khan also expressed their views on the occasion.
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