Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 23: Pleading to formulate a well defined ‘Tribal Policy’ for Jammu and Kashmir State -the members of Gujjars and Bakerwal communities today asked Government to address issues of 12 Scheduled Tribe groups of the State which constitute 25% population.
In a programme organised by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation here today they stressed the State Government to rehabilitate nomads enabling them to get education, health and other facilities. The programme was presided over by well-known researcher of Gujjar community Dr Javaid Rahi.
Dr Rahi in his address stated that tribal communities should be allowed to develop by practising their own way of life and according to their own genius. He said this would help in their overall growth. He also backed the demand of formulation of a policy which can help in eradicating illiteracy, economic instability and cultural shyness in nomads. He said such policy can pave the way for grant of rights on forest and other ancestral lands on prototype of other tribes residing in different States of India.
“The problems of tribal and nomadic communities of J&K are the same which were being faced by other ST communities of India and J&K tribes are entitled for same treatment under Constitution of India available to tribes of other States, he said added that they must be treated at par with tribal of other States of India.
He said present Government is pro tribes as it was the first to establish first-ever ‘Tribal Ministry ‘ in the State presently headed by Chief Minister , Mehboba Mufti who is also the Tribal Minister and our expectations from her are also high as she is capable enough to give a new vision to State in term of tribal development.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Mohammad Aslam Dhakar, Waseem Gorsi , Dil Mohammad Cheichi, Alam Din Choudhary, Dr Nafees Ahmed, Zahir Ahmad Khatana etc.
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