 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 19: A delegation representing the Pahadi tribal community, led by Syed Shabir Ahmed Gilani, (Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Pahadi Tribal Welfare Forum) and Ms. Preeti Sharma, Director, Officer's IAS, Education Centre met the Vice Chancellor of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University to discuss expanding tribal-focused academic initiatives and improving access to welfare schemes for students belonging to tribal communities. The delegation highlighted that the University is located in a region predominantly inhabited by tribal population, which places a significant responsibility on the institution to serve as a centre for tribal education, upliftment and cultural preservation. They emphasized the need for comprehensive awareness programmes so that students can fully benefit from government schemes, scholarships, and development initiatives designed for tribal youth. They proposed organizing special lectures, awareness drives, certificate courses, and research projects focused on the history, culture, socio-economic issues, and heritage of the tribal community. Such measures, they noted, would contribute to both academic enrichment and the preservation of the distinct identity and cultural legacy of local tribes.
During the meeting, the delegation also raised the demand for declaring BGSBU a Tribal University, citing the institution's unique demographic location and its potential to emerge as a premier centre of excellence for tribal studies in Jammu & Kashmir. They stated that such a designation would significantly enhance opportunities for targeted academic programmes, research, and community outreach in tribal-dominated areas. The Vice Chancellor appreciated the delegation's constructive suggestions and reaffirmed that the University is already working to strengthen tribal-focused academics and student support. He noted that BGSBU is currently running both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Gojri and Pahadi, and is taking steps to further enhance academic offerings in alignment with regional needs. He added that the University has ongoing initiatives to promote research on regional culture, expand community outreach, and improve awareness of government welfare schemes through various centres and departments. The Vice Chancellor further expressed readiness to collaborate with tribal organizations, scholars, and domain experts to develop programs that authentically reflect the socio-cultural context of the surrounding tribal population. He assured the delegation that their suggestions-including new courses, research initiatives, awareness activities, and the proposal for Tribal University status-would be examined seriously through a proper consultative process.
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