JK News Today
Jammu, May 05:
Tribal community Gujjars and Bakerwals today welcomed the ‘Delimitation Commission’ final notification whereby nine seats have been reserved for Scheduled Tribes in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly for the first time.
“The notification of the Delimitation Commission regarding the reservation of nine seats including six in Jammu and 03 in Kashmir Division for tribals (STs) in J-K Assembly is a step that will prove historic towards tribal development,” said Dr. Javaid Rahi, a noted tribal researcher and founder secretary of Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation while interacting with tribal elder assembled to celebrate the notification.
“It took 31years of wait for the tribes to get legitimate rights in J&K, as they were declared ST in 1991 and the political reservation is granted in 2022, ” he added.
The Gujjars and Bakerwals heartily welcome the gazette notification issued today reserving J&K Assembly seats of Rajouri, Budhal, Thanamandi, Surankote Mendhar, Gulabghar, Kangan, Gurez and Kokernag for Tribal communities.
Gujjars and Bakerwals are a major tribal group in Jammu Kashmir and are ethnically, socially and politically very important segment of the society, and political reservation will give them a sense of confidence and pride , Dr. Rahi said.The move will empower the tribal community and help to eradicate poverty, caste stigma and end inequality, he said.
“Having regard to relevant provisions of the Constitution (Article 330 and Article 332) and sub-sections (6) and (7) of Section 14 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, the number of seats to be reserved for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was worked out on the basis of 2011 Census. Accordingly, the Delimitation Commission has reserved 9 ACs for STs for the first time and 07 for SCs. It is worthwhile to mention that the Constitution of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State did not provide for reservation of seats for the Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly,” it added.
Prominent who spoke on the occasion included Parwez Chowdhary, Ishtiaq Misbah, Mushtaq Ahmed, Sadaqat Ali Chowdhary and others.
