Reserved categories’ plea to civil society on quota

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 8: Pleading that  the State  Government and civil society  should think optimistically  towards  the issues  being faced by the tribes of Jammu and Kashmir – the speakers of a programme here  today stated that  the ‘reservation’  granted  to  ST/SC/OBC/RBA/ALC etc is the share of communities  proportionate to their population of weaker section  in the State services and not an aid  at the cost of general category  people.
Attended by dignitaries of  various groups  of reserve categories,  the event  was organised by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation  and presided over by   Dr Javaid Rahi. It was held on the topic  ‘ Reservation issues ; Govt  and Civil Society”.
In his presidential address,  Dr Rahi  stated  that there is a dearth  of  positive  mindset towards issues  of tribes including their education, rehabilitation, socio-cultural and economic empowerment and overall development. He  added that  ‘reservation’ granted to identified weaker  castes, area and tribes in the state or country  is based on the  share of  a community/ area or a caste  proportionate to their  population and reserve category people  are not snatching the rights of others as  assumed by non- reserved classes of society.
He  said  that the concept of reservation was based on share of a identified weaker class, caste ,area or a tribe fall under a category (SC/ST/OBC)  and adequate representation  is granted to them in a lot of in every ten or twenty  people residing in a particular state or area  by reserving a  percentage of posts in jobs, promotion, Assemblies and Parliament  for them  to mitigate backwardness of the socially and educationally backward communities.
The other speakers stated that  as against 12.9 percent Tribal population the Gujjars and Bakerwals are getting 10 percent quota in the State jobs which is below to their share. They asked the youth to try their luck in private sector or outside country, too.
They further said though  the Gujjars-Bakerwals  are historically  oppressed and denied equal opportunity in society, yet  they remained un-represented in nation-building activities. The young generation  should focus on new system of  attaining knowledge through various resources including internet and new technology. They advised  the tribal youth not to isolate themselves from  mainstream and work along with other communities like a true struggler.
MR Chouhan, Wariz Mohammad Banya, Shabnum Rafeeq Bajran , Ali Hussain Khatana, Bashir Bajad and Haneef Lodha also spoke on the occasion.