POONCH:- 18 July 2021, SHAMSHER HAKLA POONCHI (The Prominent Gujjar leader and an intellectual of J&K) said that the need of hours in the present situation of J&K on becoming a Union Territory (U.T) is to take concrete steps for the welfare and upliftment of Gujjar Bakarwal tribe of J&K on first priority which in true essence will be the development of J&K.
The Gujjar Bakarwal tribe belonging to the Islam religion has its habitation in 20 (Twenty) districts of J&K and mostly resides in hilly, far-flung, and mountainous areas near forests and on the Indo-Pak LOC and International Border (IB) of J&K with a population of over many lakhs. Most habitation areas of the Gujjar Bakarwals tribe in Jammu and Kashmir lack facilities like road communication, electricity, water supply schemes, medical facilities, and educational facilities which put Gujjar Bakarwal tribe in lots of hardships and troubles.
He demanded the opening of boarding schools in all the districts of J&K on the pattern of Nodya Vidyalaya for Boys and Girls students of Gujjar Bakarwal and also for establishing a tribal university in J&K for Gujjar Bakarwal (Schedule Tribe) students.
Hakla said that the Gujjar Bakarwals tribe generally speaks the Gojri language and their mother language is Gojri.
He also demanded to Govt. the inclusion of the Gojri language in the 8th schedule of the Indian constitution but the J&K state govt’s had not recommended it to the govt. of India for the inclusion of the Gojri language in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution. That is why the Gojri language of the Gujjar Bakarwals tribe has become a backward language.
Shamsher Hakla Poonchi demanded to Govt. to make policies or schemes for the permanent settlement & upliftment of some of the unsettled and nomadic people of Gujjar Bakarwal tribe of J&K who have been living unsettled, Nomadic life from past to till date.
Shamsher Hakla Poonchi a prominent Gujjar leader and intellectual of J&K, said the Gujjars Bakarwals of J&K are divide into three tribes settled, Half Settled, and Unsettle Nomadic. The needs and the Problems, the language and culture of the Gujjar Bakarwal tribe are quite different from other communities of J&K, that is why this tribe has its own peculiar position and it has its own identity customs and unique way of life.
Hakla said that the Half settled and unsettled Nomadic tribes of Gujjar and Bakarwals people along with their belongings, families, and cattle’s goes to the heights of hills and mountains (Dhoks) of J&K as there they can have sufficient grazing fields for their cattle’s/animals. There they live for about six months of the summer season, every year
Hakla said that the people of unsettled Nomadic tribes of Gujjar Bakarwals are educationally, economically, socially, and politically backward.
Shamsher Hakla Poonchi Prominent Gujjar Leader and intellectual of J&K demanded to the Govt. of India sanction the special package and made the Policy for Permanent Settlement and upliftment welfare of unsettled Nomadic people of Gujjar Bakarwal tribe of J&K who have been unsettled Nomadic life from past to till date.
Hakla said that presently the need of the hour and requirement for development and welfare of Gujjars Bakarwals is establishing a tribal development council in J&K with the financial and developmental power by the Govt. of India.