Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 1: Dr Javed Rahi, a renowned tribal scholar today inaugurated the third day of ‘Arts Festival’, being organised by Yes India Foundation at Yaseen English School Bathindi, here.
In his presidential address, Rahi stated that only education could change the fate and future of Gujjars community. The Gujjars and Bakerwals are facing challenges in competitions due to low literacy rate in comparison with the other tribes of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said sustainable, voluntary, affordable and inclusive education programme are required for tribal groups to get benefits of the reservation under ST .
“It is a matter of concern that every seven out of 10 Gujjars and Bakerwals of J&K are illiterate while the condition of women of these tribal groups are so worst as 82.2% illiteracy rate, revealed by Registrar General of India,” he asserted.
He further said that extreme poverty, rough and tough life, early marriage system and nomadic traditions were also causing a dark shadows over the future of lakhs of nomadic children, residing in the backward, hilly and border areas of the J&K.
He appreciated the efforts of Yes India Foundation for providing quality education to tribal and weaker section children in different areas of the UT with 36 chain of schools.
Others who spoke on the occasion includes, Dr Arif Sajad, Dr Shokat Bukhari, Chairman of the Foundation, Dr Amjad Bhat, Principal, Ramshad Prammal, Staff Secretary, Mohd Kafail Chouhan and Choudhary Yasir Bashir.
Later awards were distributed among teachers, meritorious students and scholars.
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