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| Army men take another initiative to secure, promote Bakarwals | | | EARLY TIMES REPOPRT
Jammu, Dec 25: Besides services to the common man in hard conditions of the State, Armymen have taken another initiative while reaching the most ignored migratory community of bakerwal and extending all possible help to them.
Move of herds of goats and sheep on roads near Akhnoor, towards the Line of Control near Pallanwala, is a common sight these days.
A 70-year-old bakarwal, Haji Mohammed Shafi, is a resident of village Thillo in tehsil Mohore has been through the migratory process every year of his life. He and his family spend summer months in Sanlaad in Anantnag district and move to Rajwal village near Akhnoor, during winters.
Amongst many momentous events in his lifetime, he was witness to the merger of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to the Republic of India. Sharing and narrating his life experiences with nostalgia, he talks of the Indian Army as the “saviours of the State” and says that without the presence of army in the area would have been in a state of anarchy under the control of terrorists and religious fundamentalists.
He disclosed that Bakarwals have a distinct culture and way of life, different from the rest of the communities. Although, Bakarwals are peace loving people, two decades of terrorism and turmoil has taken its toll on them.
“Often approached and coerced by terrorists and anti national elements for food and shelter while on move or during stay in deras or dhoks in far flung areas, they face the wrath of terrorists, if they dare to refuse. On the other hand, security forces too view some of them with suspicion”, he added.
However, the old man has noticed a significant change in the conduct and attitude of the people in the area this year, thanks to the Army Camp located nearby.
He elaborated that Pallanwala Brigade of Crossed Swords Division with the aim of ensuring security and incident free environment, as also winning the hearts and minds of the bakarwals’.
“Armymen have reached out to the bakarwals and are extending all possible help to them including free medical camps and distributing medicines to our families as well as animals”, he asserted.
He added that the periodic visits by Army personnel to the deras has also given a sense of security and prevented harassment of bakarwals by bad elements in the area, a phenomenon the former had accepted as routine and unavoidable.
He further added that the army has made sincere and genuine attempts to understand their culture and provide them a sense of identity and recognition, with a view to integrate them with the society at large.
PRO Vipul Nath said that the army officials are providing assistance to the migratory community in various means including medical aid, providing them food materials and also establishes some mobile school to give the basic education.
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