 Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 17: The two-day National Seminar on "Weaving Janjatiya Heritage as Pathways to Sustainable Futures in North-Western Himalayas" concluded today at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu with a valedictory session graced by eminent dignitaries from academia, government, and civil society. The function was held in the august presence of Mr. Arshad Ali Choudhary, Chairman, Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust (GDCT), Er. Mohammad Sadiq Azad, General Secretary, GDCT, and Jb. Shouket Javed, Senior Trustee, GDCT. Earlier, the seminar was inaugurated by Prof. B.N. Tripathi, Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu, and Sh. Prasanna Ramaswamy G. (IAS), Secretary to Government, Tribal Affairs Department, J&K.
In his address, Mr. Arshad Ali Choudhary highlighted the efforts of GDCT in the welfare of tribal communities, particularly the Gujjars and Bakerwals. He expressed gratitude to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his initiatives for tribal upliftment and paid tribute to freedom fighter Birsa Munda for his remarkable contributions. Mr. Choudhary also touched upon the significance of tribal population data in the census and invited SKUAST-Jammu to collaborate with GDCT for future programmes. Emphasizing the socio-economic importance of Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, he noted their contribution of over 90% in milk production and their critical role in the rural economy.
Dr. Amrish Vaid, who presided over the session, underscored the importance of addressing the challenges faced by tribal communities and preserving their culture and indigenous knowledge systems. He also briefed the gathering on the agricultural programmes implemented by SKUAST-Jammu in tribal districts.
Er. Mohammad Sadiq Azad, General Secretary, GDCT, reiterated the legacy of Birsa Munda and congratulated student participants for showcasing their research on tribal issues, particularly the ethnobotanical practices followed by various communities.
Dr. Vikas Tandon, Dean, Faculty of Horticulture and Forestry, emphasized the need for effective implementation of tribal welfare schemes, while Dr. Hema Tripathi congratulated the delegates and reflected on the key issues raised during the seminar.
Dr. Sudhakar Dwivedi, Convenor of the Seminar felicitated the guests and students. Dr. Pawan K Sharma, Prof. and Head, Division of Agricultural Economics and ABM welcomed the delegates and briefed about the seminar conducted in collaboration with ICSSR, New Delhi. The seminar was organized by the Division of Agricultural Economics & Agri-Business Management, SKUAST-Jammu in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi, under its prestigious Competitive Seminar Scheme. Notably, SKUAST-Jammu was the only institution from Jammu & Kashmir among the 11 selected nationwide, underscoring its growing prominence in social science research and rural development studies.
The successful organization of the seminar was made possible by the dedicated efforts of the organizing team comprising Dr. Jyoti Kachroo, Dr. S.P. Singh, and Dr. Anil Bhat. The programme concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Dr. S.P. Singh. |
