Poonch 14 November 2021: Shamsher Hakla Poonchi, the prominent Gujjar leader and intellectual of J&K said that on 19 April 1991 the Govt. of India while recognized the backwardness of the Gujjar Bakarwal community of Jammu And Kashmir, declared them as scheduled tribe. The president of India granted scheduled tribe status by way of ordinance no.3 of 1991 under article 342 of the Indian constitution to them. The lapse of over 30 years since their grant of schedule Tribe status the previous state government of Jammu and Kashmir could not implement it in letter and spirit to give full benefit of Schedule Tribe status to Gujjar-Bakarwal community of J&K . It would be appropriate to mention here that all the efforts made by Govt. Of India for the development and welfare of Gujjar and Bakarwal community of J&K, have been deliberately obstructed by the previous state Govt.s for the past many decades which resulted in their utter political, social, economical, and educational backwardness.
Hakla said that the Gujjar Bakarwal community has its habitation in Twenty (20) districts of J&K U.T. Gujjar Bakarwal community is divided into 3 parts: Settled, Half Settled, and Unsettled Nomadic Gujjar Bakarwals. The homeless Gujjars can be divided in two tribes, dodhi Gujjars and Bakarwal Gujjars.One tribe of Gujjars in known as “Dodhi” or “Banyara” Gujjars. These people keep buffaloes and lead nomadic life. Another tribe of the homeless Gujjars is known as Bakarwal Gujjars. These people mainly keep sheep and goats besides other animals and these are their main sources of livelihood.
Hakla said that the Gujjar Bakarwal community mostly resides in far-flung, hilly mountainous areas near forests. The problems and needs of Gujjar Bakarwals are quite different from other communities of the J&K. Language and culture of the Gujjar Bakarwal community is also different than those of other communities of J&K that is why this community has its own peculiar position. Gujjar Bakarwal community is different and as such the community has a distinct identity.
Hakla said that nomadic Gujjar Bakarwal are homeless and landless wandering in the open. Other people live as social beings but these people live around quadrupeds all their lifetime.
Expressing serious concern over the plight of Gujjars and Bakarwals who are deprived of basic amenities by the authorities, Shamsher Hakla Poonchi a prominent Gujjar leader and intellectual of J&K today urged the J&K U.T government to provide all basic facilities to Gujjars and Bakarwals in the J&K.
In a statement issued here, today Hakla said that these helpless people are leading a miserable and hard life and being nationalists to core government should take effective steps in providing benefits of all welfare schemes to them launched from time to time.
Shamsher Hakla Poonchi urged the Prime Minister of India to sanction a special economic package for permanent settlement and welfare and upliftment of Nomadic Gujjars Bakarwals of J&K.
Shamsher Hakla Poonchi also appealed to Sh. Narendra Modi Hon’ble Prime Minister of India for special recruitment in Indian Army, Border Security Force Central Reserve Police , Seema Suraksha Bal and Jammu and Kashmir Police for Gujjar Bakarwals.