Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Aug 5: Minister for Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries, Abdul Ghani Kohli today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed various issues being faced by the nomadic populace and sought promotion of Pahari and Gujar languages, besides four-lane road and rail link to Poonch district in Jammu division.
Kohli briefed the Prime Minister that four-lane road and rail link to Poonch is a long pending demand of the people of Pir Panchal region.
He also informed the Prime Minister that nomadic people have to travel for about one-and-a-half month to reach the destination of Kashmir highland pastures for rearing their livestock. He also briefed the Prime Minister about the problems of Gujars and Bakerwals who undergo seasonal migration and had to move on foot along with their family members and livestock and often face hardships en route due to non-availability of medical facilities. The Minister requested for transport arrangements for their livestock and family members by the Union Government.
The Minister also sought the promotion of Pahari and Gujar languages and said that the languages be brought in the syllabus of Government Schools in the Jammu and Kashmir, besides Gujari language be sanctioned in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.