Gujjar leader Shamsher Hakla highlights demands of Gujjar Bakerwal tribe of J&K
POONCH:-31 October 2021: Shamsher Hakla Poonchi, Gujjar leader and an intellectual 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 the 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 for 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. As of now, the Gojri language has become a backward language & it’s necessary to include it in the 8th schedule of the Indian constitution for its upliftment & development. The population of people speaking the Gojri language in Jammu & Kashmir is Thirty-four ( 34 ) lakhs.
He also demanded to Govt. for 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.
Hakla said that the recognizing the backwardness of Gujjar Bakarwal tribe of J&K, by Govt. of India granted scheduled tribe status to Gujjar Bakarwals under ordinance No. 03 of 1991 under articles 342 of the constitution of India on April 19, 1991, so far their participation in the state administrative and political setup of J&K is concerned under scheduled tribe status norms, there should have been a reservation of assembly segment and Lok Sabha segments for Gujjar Bakarwal in J&K but it did not happen anywhere in the J&K by previous J&K state Govt. it is a big injustice to Gujjar Bakarwals. In J&K there are 31 (Thirty One) state assembly segments out of 87 (eighty-seven) assembly segments of J&K and 2 (two) Lok Sabha segments out of 6 (six) Lok Sabha segments of J&K which are inhabited by the Gujjar Bakarwal tribe, and such segments should be reserved for Gujjar Bakarwal tribe because of schedule tribe status but due to indifferent attitude of the J&K state Govt. the Gujjar Bakarwal tribe stands deprived of this political reservation right. It would be appropriate to mention here that all the efforts made by Govt. of India for the development and welfare of the Gujjar Bakarwal tribe of J&K, have been deliberately obstructed by the previous J&K State Govts.
Hakla demanded to Govt. to reserve the assembly segments and Lok sabha segments in J&K for Gujjar Bakarwal (Schedule Tribe) Community.
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.
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.
