Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 27: Terming creation of Tribal Ministry in the State as historic step of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Former Minister & MLA Darhal Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today said that this ministry is biggest ever gift to community for the last the 67 years.
Addressing meeting of J&K Gujjar Bakerwal Conference held in TRC Jammu to pay tribute to late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and acknowledge his contribution for community, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali said that during 2014 election campaign, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had pledged to give Tribal Ministry so as to change the situation of nomads and creation of this ministry was first decision of Government when Mufti Mohammad Sayeed took over as Chief Minister. He said that Mufti was well versed about the condition of tribal population who in particular, faces many difficulties due to their location which is mostly in the hilly areas of the State.
Acknowledging vision of Mufti for welfare of Gujjar community, Zulfkar said that Mufti was very particular for implementation of Forest Right Act and stoppage of forcible eviction of Gujjar Bakerwal people from the areas used by them near forests. He said that the livelihood of Gujjar Bakerwal community mostly depends on forests as they spent most of the period of a year in forest areas along with their livestock. However, due to heavy restrictions by the Forest Department, they were facing great difficulties and hardships.
Former Minister said that Forest Right Act has been implemented in whole India except J&K and there is a constant demand of nomadic tribal community of J&K for implementation of the Act in the state and Mufti was very much serious about this and that was why he constituted a Committee under the chairmanship of then Deputy Chief Minister to look into the matter and give specific recommendations for its implementation.
On the occasion, Mufti’s broad vision towards tribal community was explained by Haji Mohammad Yousaf, President of J&K Gujjar Bakerwal Conference, Haji Nizam-ud-Din Khatana former MLC, Choudhary Siraj-ud-Din of Kupwara, Chowdhary Salam-ud-Din of Kupwara, Choudhary Mohammad Yaseen Poswal of Pulwama, Choudhary Gulzar Khatana, Choudhary Zakir Hussain of Jammu, Choudhary Mohammad Lateef Khatana, Choudhary Siraj ud Din of Udhampur, Choudhary Bashir Ahmed of Jammu, Choudhary Mohammad Shafi, Choudhary Liaqat of Kathua, Choudhary Gulzar of Kathua and Choudhary Ibrahim of Reasi besides other who paid rich tribute to Mufi Mohammad Sayeed and hoped that next government will resolve pending matters of tribal community and realize dreams of Mufti.
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