Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Apr 4: A prominent Gujjar leader from Poonch, Shamsher Hakla has said that the need of hour is to take concrete steps for the welfare and upliftment of Gujjar- Bakarwal tribes of J&K under prevailing circumstances.
In a press statememt here, Hakla said that Gujjar-Bakarwal tribes belonging to Islam has its habitation in twenty districts of J&K and they mostly reside in hilly, far-flung and mountainous areas near forests and on the LoC and International Border (IB) of J&K having vast population. Most habitation areas of Gujjar- Bakarwals in Jammu and Kashmir lack facilities like road communication, electricity, water supply, medical and educational facilities which put these tribes in lots of hardships.
He demanded opening of boarding schools in all the districts of J&K on the pattern of Navodya Vidyalaya for boys and girl students of Gujjar- Bakarwal and also establishing a Tribal University in J&K. He also demanded that Gojri language be included in 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution for its upliftment & development. Hakla also demanded to reserve the Assembly and Lok Sabha segments in J&K for Gujjar Bakarwal (Schedule Tribe) community.
He urged the Govt to conduct a special survey during the winter season, so that the exact population of Gujjar- Bakarwal Tribes of J&K can be established.
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