Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Sept 9:Shamsher Hakla Poonchi a prominent Muslim Gujjar leader and an intellectual of J&K today made an appeal to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi demanding sanctioning of the special developmental and political package for the Gujjars & Bakarwals of J & K so that their habitation areas may get developed and also they could get the facilities like road communication, electricity, water supply schemes, medical and education.
He said that the Muslim Gujjar and Bakarwal community of J&K mostly resides in hilly, far-flung and mountainous areas near forests and on the Indo-Pak LoC and they lack all basic amenities of life.
Hakla appealed Prime Minister for special recruitment drive for Gujjars, Bakarwals youth of J&K in Indian Army, Central Reserved Police Force (C.R.P.F), Border Security Force (B.S.F), Seema Suraksha Bal(S.S.B) & J&K Police besides, establishment of Boarding Schools on the pattern of Nodya Vidyalaya for Gujjar Bakarwal boys & girls in all districts of J&K.
He also demanded inclusion of Gojri language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India. This would ensure the development and spread of Gojri language. Hakla said that the Gojri language is being spoken by a very large number population of Gujjars and Bakarwals of J&K.
He demanded starting Gojri language programme and the news bulletin in on All India Radio, New Delhi and Doordarshan, New Delhi at national level so that the Gojri language can reach at its highest peak.
He further demanded issuance of Postal Stamp on the name of prominent nationalist & patriotic Gujjar Bakarwal leader of J&K Late Ch.Wazir Mohammed Hakla.
He said that in J & K there are 31 Assembly and two Lok Sabha segments which are inhabited by Gujjars Bakarwals. Though given ST Status to them in 1991, they were till date deprived of political reservation.
Turning attention of PM towards the plight of Gujjars and Bakerwals, he said some of them are settled while some still lead a nomadic life and hence need special attention from Union Government. The community has its habitation in 20 districts of J&K with the population of over 34 lakh, he added.
Follow our WhatsApp channel