Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Mar 22: Asserting that Gujjars who constitute a significant and sizeable proportion of the total population of the Jammu and Kashmir, are the symbols of patriotism and nationalism, noted Tribal Researcher Dr Javaid Rahi today stated that a new era of Tribal Development is commenced in J&K with the introduction of new laws after 2019, which empowers ST communities at large.
Dr Rahi was delivering a keynote address at a program organized on the eve of ‘International Gujjar’s Day’at the University of Delhi, North Campus, in the main seminar Hall of Buddhist Studies Department. Other dignitaries present on the occasion include Indersh Kumar Margdashak (guide) of Muslim Rastriya Manch (RSS), Professors of universities including Dr Saif Ali Chaudhary, Dr Sushil Bhati, Dr Anil Kumar Singh, Prof Narindra Singh, Prof Mushtaq Qadri, besides Dr Satya Prakash (IAS) and many others.
During his address, Dr Rahi narrated a seven decades story of the struggle of J&K Gujjars for the recognition of their separate identity as a tribal. He stated that the patriotism is in our DNA and the Gujjars are nationalist by conviction and not of any compulsion”. We have proved it in the past during extreme testing times, he added.
He said the new laws including ‘Forest Rights Act, SC/ST Atrocities Act, Political Reservation to STs and other laws extended to J&K in 2019 will defiantly change the socio-economic profile of the Tribal Gujjars, Bakerwals, Gaddis and Sippis. He said after proper implementation Forest Right Act 2006 in J&K, the fate of Tribes will be changed forever and they shall hold their head high.
Dr Rahi added that due to grant of the rights under Political Reservation now 102 Sarpanchs, 66 Block Chairman, 43 DDC Members and 3 Chairpersons of DDC have been elected under ST category across J&K. The Delimitation Commission has recently announced the reservation of 09 seats for STs in JK Assembly which is a great step towards tribal empowerment, he added.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel