 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 20: Even since the Center Government has abrogated Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, the Valmiki Community has expressed its extreme happiness terming it historic decision which has opened the gateway of carrer opportunities for them.
"Scrapping of Art 370, is like a dream come true for us which otherwise had become biggest hurdle in our overall social development, to get higher education and getting jobs on different positions in various departments of Jammu and Kashmir," said Dev Anand Gill, President All Jammu and Kashmir Valmiki Dharam Smaj.
He criticized the previous governments in State as well as in Center for not doing anything to provide benefits to Valmiki community in the State citing reason of Article 370 due to which this marginalized community was forced to live in difficult conditions were deprived of their rights. "We had to suffer a lot in absence of Permanent Resident Certificate, which restricted this community to do jobs other than as sanitation workers. With the passage of time, our children who aspired for higher education in colleges, to get admission in MBBS, Engineering could not realized their dreams as PCR was made mandatory for candidates to admissions and jobs which shattered and blocked their dream for pursuing these professional courses," he maintained.
Although it has been more than 70 years since this community has been living in Jammu and Kashmir but yet has been barred from their legitimate rights which are being enjoyed by the others citizens, he said.
"Now when Government has scrapped this article, it has proved as golden opportunity for Valmiki Community," he said further adding that he is seeing lot of good things and very hopeful in coming time for the upliftment of this marginalized community, who has been discharging its duty of sanitation of entire city around the clock.
He demanded the center government to give all legitimate rights to Valimiki community of the State which are being enjoyed by this community in other state like Punjab, UP, HP, Maharashtra etc. "Gazetted Holiday should be declared in the State. There should be reservation quota for Valmiki community in jobs in higher posts in every department. We have objection over the nomenclature written on the Scheduled Cast certificate issued to Valimiki community and instead of that word, Valmikan word should be inserted as a matter of dignity, Dev Anand said. |
