JK News Today
Rajouri, Nov. 05
The Gujjar community has urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to make laws tough for purchase of Tribals’ land as many have to sell their prime land under pressure
The community members stated that the influential land mafia and other agencies must be stopped immediately to buy such lands which has be sold out by Gujjars for big projects.
The community members were speaking in a programme organised by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation -held here today to discuss problems being faced by tribal communities. The programme was presided over by noted Gujjar Scholar Dr. Javaid Rahi and attened by dignitaries of the tribe.
Dr. Javaid Rahi in his address stated that during the course of interaction with a number of tribal deras it has been found that a law is required immediately to save tribal from land mafia which are active to purchase the land owned by tribal people especially by Gujjars.
He said that a law is required whereby the consent of local tribal- Jirga be made mandatory for acquisition of land , even by the government for its use.
He said, ” in order to safeguard their livelihood , tribal identity and culture surviving near cities and towns a law is must to disallow acquisition of tribal land by a non-tribal, including private companies and prevent them from the land mafia”.
The speaker demanded that govt should introduce a law to prevent and safeguard tribal land for future generations. They said that government agencies must desist to acquire tribal land to transfer it to private companies for “public purpose”. The public-private partnership mode is simply a backdoor method of alienating land in violation of the provision restricting transfer of tribal land to non-tribals in Scheduled Areas.
They demanded that Government must return unutilised tribal land or use the same for resettlement of displaced tribal.