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| Gujars want separate regiona identity along Pir Panchal range | | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR, July 5: A survey conducted by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF) a national organization working for Gujjars indicates that about 89% Gujjars of the state showed keen interest in “Pir Panchal Gujjar Region”. Believing that they are being discriminated on every front of life and desires constitutional safeguard for the marginal and tribal communities of the state Dr. Javaid Rahi, National Secretary of the foundation while revealing the list of the survey said here at summer capital that 1000 houses of Gujjars and Bakerwal tribe were chosen randomly and surveyed in Poonch, Rajouri, Shopian, Barmulla and Kupwara districts. The Survey was conducted to know their socio-political outlook of Gujjars and their views about various issues related to tribal society of J&K state, said Dr. Rahi adding that the questionnaire was drafted in the Gojjri language, the language spoken by the tribals.
91% supported the demand of reservation of 20% seats of State Assembly, Council and Parliamentary constituencies for Gujjar tribe in J&K, while 61% of Gujjars rejected the demand of division of the state into three states on regional and communal lines and favor that the trifurcation would divide the nationalist forces and would strengthening the Anti- National Elements and 67% Gujjars supported that they should be categorized as "Religious Minority" in the Jammu region and "Ethno-Linguistic Minority in Kashmir Valley as they are facing the brunt of hardship and extremism in the both regions of the state, Dr. Rahi informed.
91% of the Gujjars said that the Scheduled Tribe Status granted by Government of India in 1991, is inadequate to deal with the misery and problems being faced of this nomadic community, 78 % of nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals in Jammu and Kashmir are living Below Poverty Line (BPL), maximum population of these two nomadic tribes of the Himalayan ranges are living a very difficult life, and they lack basic facilities like education, health care and drinking water, besides 87 per cent nomads belonging to the tribe are without lands and not in a position to manage proper shelter and fodder for their livestock, he added.
Gujjars and Bakerwals due to unhygienic living standards and without proper light and ventilation facilities, resulted in 43 per cent Gujjar women, 23 per cent Gujjar males and a sizeable percentage of children suffering from different ailments, 81 per cent of nomads are not aware of schemes offered by the state and Central governments for their uplifting and betterment he said and added that due to lack of proper marketing facilities, the Gujjars are not in a position to get proper value for their products like mutton, milk products and wool. This is the main reason why this nomadic tribe is financially backward.
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