JK News Today
Jammu, November 01:
In view of the migration of nomadic Gujjars to neighboring States from Jammu and Kashmir, the tribal elders today appealed the migratory groups not to leave J&K -as new laws will protect their identity, culture, life style and ethnicity as Scheduled Tribes besides boost livelihood.
The community members were speaking in a programme organised here by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation . They made an extensive appeal to nomad Gujjars who are leaving Jammu and Kashmir due high rates of fodder and less rate of milk and milk products.
The programme was presided over by renowned researcher and noted tribal scholars Dr. Javaid Rahi while a number of youth attended the programme.
Dr. Javaid Rahi in his address stated that this is a matter of grave concern for the community that nomadic (Banhara ) Gujjars are leaving the Jammu and Kashmir in good number towards other states such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pardesh , Uttarakhand and other areas.
He said , I have consulted a number migratory tribal elders that new laws are expected to be implemented in the J&K shortly so they should wait.
He said that the ‘Banhara’ (who lives in forests) Gujjars of Jammu, Samba , Kathua, Kishtwar and Udhampur districts are migrating to other states of India since last few years , as they are facing extreme shortage of fodder, space for their animals besides security and other reasons. Further , in view of , evictions from all type of lands, , closures on government lands, Pakistan Firing on borders , low rates of milk products and other issues , the nomad Gujjars are leaving our state gradually which is unfortunate.
The speakers of the programme in their joint appeal asked the community members not to leave Jammu and Kashmir and struggle for their rights.
They asked the community elders to rethink over the migration issues and fight hard for their constitutional rights in the J&K . They said a sympathy wave towards nomadic issues is evolving rapidly in power corridors and we have to wait for better deals from govt.
The speakers appealed to government to fullfill their demands so that they may avoid migrations to other areas.They made an appeal to new Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to direct government to evacuate Tribal till new laws including Forest Right Act, SC/ST Atrocities Act, Delimitation Act, Conservation Act which empowers tribe to be implemented in UT of J&K.
Those who spoke includes Ishtaq Misbah, Sadiq Chowdhary, Zahid Chowdhary, Zulkarnain Chowdhary and others.
