‘Political parties misleading people for vested interests’
*Total reservations won’t exceed 50 percent
Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Feb 8: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said that Pahari Ethnic and other tribes who are being extended reservation under Scheduled Tribe (ST) category will entirely be a separate block and this will in no way dilute the reservation of existing STs including Gujjars and Bakerwals even as he charged certain political parties with trying to mislead the people on the issue.
He, however, said that the newly added tribes in the ST category will get all benefits like reservation in Government jobs, educational institutions, welfare schemes and political reservations.
“Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to Rajouri and Baramulla in 2022 announced reservation for Paharis and other tribes on the basis of recommendations of GD Sharma Commission. The process was followed and Lok Sabha has passed a bill to extend reservations to Pahari Ethnic tribe, Paddari tribe, Koli and Gadda Brahmins. The reservations are aimed at fulfillment of Central Government’s slogan of `Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas’. But those who are already enjoying reservations under ST category including Gujjars, Bakerwals, Gaddi, Sippi, Sheena etc will not be impacted by new reservations,” Sinha said.
He made it clear that existing tribes will continue to get their quota of 10 percent reservations and a new Sub Group will be created for reservations of new tribes being added under the ST category.
“There will be absolutely no cut in reservations of Gujjars and Bakerwals. A new Sub Group will be created for reservations to newly added groups,” the Lieutenant Governor said and added that certain political parties which have done nothing for Gujjars and Bakerwals when they were in power during last 70 years are instigating the tribes for political considerations.
Calling upon the Gujjars and Bakerwals not to get misled, he said their interests have been fully taken care of and protected by the Government.
“I can say this with full responsibility that there will not be even 0.01 percent cut in the reservations being enjoyed by Gujjars, Bakerwals and rest of the tribes. Even there will be no competition among the two Sub Groups. Reservations for both the Groups will be separate,” Sinha said.
Asserting that there was no confusion among the tribes on reservations, he said the political leaders with vested interests are trying to create confusion as during their rule they did nothing for welfare for either the existing tribes or for Paharis and others.
He said the Paharis for long had been struggling for ST status and Prime Minister Narendra Modi fulfilled their demand. Some political parties gave mere assurances not only to Paharis but Gujjars and Bakerwals also and kept playing the politics of “divide and rule”. The tribes should look into vested interests of political parties and shouldn’t fall into their trap, he added.
Sinha also made it clear that the tribes being inducted in STs will also get reservations in Government jobs and educational institutions besides the political reservations and benefits of all Central as well as Union Territory schemes.
He pointed out that there were no political reservations to STs in Jammu and Kashmir and it was only after August 5, 2019 decisions of the Central Government (abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India) that the Delimitation Commission reserved nine seats for them in 90-seat Legislative Assembly of the UT.
Besides political reservations, he said, a large number of decisions have been taken for welfare of the Scheduled Tribes by both Central as well as Jammu and Kashmir Governments during last four years.
The Lieutenant Government said that the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) will also get reservations in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time. However, he made it clear that total reservations won’t cross 50 percent.
Listing a series of welfare measures taken for Gujjars and Bakerwals in Jammu and Kashmir during last four years, Sinha said the seasonal teachers were getting Rs 4000 per month which have been raised to Rs 10,000, Forest Rights Act was implemented after abrogation of Article 370, Community Forest Rights were also given and Government buses and trucks were arranged for transportation of tribes and their cattle.
“Mobile hospitals have been set up. Under Prime Minister’s Scheme, Rs one crore is being given for development where tribal population is living. Eight new hostels have been constructed for tribes and more are being constructed. There have been smart classes, scholarships and various other schemes for the tribals,” he added.
The Lieutenant Governor said the National Tribal Festival is being organized every year. Laptops and tablets have been given to tribal students in large numbers. Ninety two villages inhibited by trials have been fully electrified.
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