Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 12: Demanding extension of ‘Forest Rights Act’, enacted by Indian Parliament in 2006 to Jammu and Kashmir State, a number of nomadic Gujjar and Bakarwal community members held a protest demonstration here today.
The protesting Gujjar- Bakarwal raised slogan in support of their demand and urged the Government to grant them rights on forest lands, which are constitutionally granted to other scheduled tribe community residing across the country.
Alleging that the tribals of Jammu and Kashmir were being discriminated by successive Governments, they demanded that Gujjar-Bakerwal in the State should be treated at par with other ST communities of India.
They explained that 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 their rights as Schedule Tribes.
They demanded that each family of Tribal and forest dwellers of J&K should 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 and nomadic tribes of State since 2006 when Forest Rights were implemented in whole India. They said that more than 40 percent of total population of Gujjars and Bakarwals is landless and deserves dwelling rights on forest lands which they are using as traditional inhabitants since centuries together.
Those who spoke on the occasion, includes Ch Faiz Bokan, Ch Shafi Pajwala, Ch Shabir, Haji Mohammad Faiz Bokda, Mohammad Ashraf, Mohammad Ismail Poswal and others.
Later a delegation of nomads met Dr Javaid Rahi, Secretary, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation and sought help of the organization in their ongoing struggle. Dr Rahi assured that the Foundation will write to Governor of J&K apprising him that economy of lakhs of nomadic Gujjars-Bakarwal tribes is based on forests. “We will appeal him to issue an SRO granting Tribal rights”, he added.
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