| Discrimination with Gujjars, Bakarwals of J&K | | | Shamsher Hakla Poonchi | 4/8/2019 11:52:05 PM |
| Excluding Ladakh region Gujjars and Bakarwals can be found in Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar Districts of Jammu Division and Srinagar, Badgam, Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Kupwara, Bandipura, Pulwama Baramula & Ganderbal Districts of Kashmir Division. There are two sects of Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir viz. Gujjar and Bakerwal. Bakerwals are about 10 lakhs in whole State and Gujjar are about 24 lakhs. All the Gujjar Bakerwal of J&K belongs to Islam religion total population of Gujjar Bakarwal in J&K about 34 Lakhs.
Problems and needs of Gujjars Bakarwals are quite different from other communities of the J&K state. Language and culture of Gujjar Bakarwal community is also different than those of other communities of this state that is why community has its own peculiar position.
Gujjar Bakarwal community is different and as such the community has a distinct identity. Gujjar Bakerwal community is still politically, socially, educationally, economically lagging behind and backward. Gujjar Bakarwal community mostly reside in far flung, hilly, mountainous areas near forests and on the Indo-Pak Line of actual control in J&K. Two Lok sabha segments in Jammu and Kashmir namely Jammu, Poonch and Baramulla, Kupwara of Jammu & Kashmir which are 37% (thirty seven) Gujjar-Bakarwal electoral.
Recognizing their backwardness of Gujjar Bakarwal of J&K. Govt. of India granted scheduled tribe status to Gujjars Bakarwals under ordinance No. 03 of 1991 under article 342 of constitution of India on April 19, 1991 so far as has their participation in the state politics is concerned under scheduled tribe status norms, there should have been reservation of assembly segment and Lok Sabha Segments for Gujjar Bakarwal in J&K state but it did not happen any were in the state of J&K thereby state govt. has done a great in justice to Gujjar Bakarwal community. Further more in the state of J&K there are 31 (thirty one) state assembly segments and 2 (two) Lok sabha segments which are inhabited by Gujjar Bakarwal such segments most have been reserved for Gujjar Bakarwal but due to indifferent attitude of the J&K state govt. the Gujjar Bakarwal community stands deprived of this political rights.
It would be appropriate to mention here that all the efforts made by govt. of India for the development and welfare of Gujjar and Bakarwal community of J&K state, have been deliberately obstructed by the J&K state govt. for the past many decades which resulted in their utter political, social and economical backwardness of Gujjar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir. |
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