Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 31: While welcoming the grant of 4% reservation to the Pahari speaking people, as a delayed but step in right direction after long struggle, several senior Pahari leaders have asked the Centre Government to concede the demand of ST status, as recommended by the successive state Governments since 1989.
In a joint statement several senior Pahari leaders have said that the NC-Congress Coalition Government in 2014 passed a Bill giving 5% reservation to the Paharis, till the grant of ST status to them as recommended from time to time since 1989, by successive state Governments.
The struggle for the reservation to Paharis saw a long drawn struggle leading to setting up of an Advisory Board for their welfare grant of scholarships to their school going children and repeated attempts to meet the various requirements for the grant of reservations to them. The real struggle for ST status is pending consideration with Centre Government which should be considered at the earliest, as promised by the ruling party and its leaders from time to time.
They also demanded simplification of the procedure for the grant of category certificate to the Pahari speaking people to them and to avoid any undue hassles to them.
The signatories to the statement include, former minister Shabir Ahmed Khan, Ex-MLA Ashok Sharma, Jahangir Hussian Mir, S. Rajinder Singh Kaka, R.P. Sharma, Zahid Malik, Karamat Malik, Shakeel Mir, Sushil Sharma, Lovely Gutpa, Mushtaq Ahmed, NC Sharma and Joginder Singh Chib.
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