Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 29: Former BJP Minister and Schedule Tribe (ST) Morcha head for J&K UT, Abdul Gani Kohli today expressed his concern over the non-participation of ST people living in UT in all major schemes launched by the Government of India and the J&K Government. He made an appeal to the administration to ensure ST category people are taken on board while implementing Central and UT level schemes.
Addressing a press conference here, today Kohli said that SC category people shouldn’t be considered as “untouchables” as they too are part and parcel of J&K. “ST people including Bakerwals and Gujjars, who live in forests and mountains are totally unaware of the scores of programs, Centrally sponsored schemes and funding that comes under Tribal Fund Schemes from both governments,” he said, adding that the UT administration must ensure active participation of ST category people in decision making, implementation of Central sponsored schemes, and UT level schemes.
“I also urge the UT administration that since a Coordination Committee has been constituted for ST category people, but there is hardly any representative from the ST people. Apart from that, the representatives of ST level people should be part of awareness programs launched from time to time about their schemes, welfare programs, etc,” said Kohli, who thanked Prime Minister, Narendera Modi for choosing him to lead the ST Morch in J&K UT.
Kohli was flanked by BJP JK spokesman, Altaf Thakur and ST Morch leader Reyaz Ahmed Choudhary and others. Kohli said that people of ST category living in Budgam, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Baramulla, Rajouri, Poonch and other districts should benefit from the schemes launched by the Centre and UT governments respectively.
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