JK News Today
Jammu, May 16:
Demanding that the government should immediately start special mobile vaccination program for nomadic Gujjars, Bakarwals , Gaddis and Sippis noted tribal researcher Dr. Javaid Rahi today said that the coronavirus awareness among tribes of Jammu and Kashmir becomes imperative in view of speared of virus in rural areas.
He was speaking in a virtual meeting of Gujjars – Bakarwals community members here this afternoon. The programme was organized by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation with the aim to discuss pandemic issues.
Dr. Rahi in his presidential address said that in some rural areas the Tribal Gujjars-Bakarwals besides Gaddis and Sippis are showing hesitancy to get vaccinated. He said here the community leaders, influential people, media and the tribal youth have to play a positive role to convince nomadic population to get vaccinated in their respective areas.
He said a larger chunk of tribal Gujjars, Bakarwals are residing in hilly and difficult areas of J&K .This is our duty speared awareness among people living in dhoks , pastures, forests to know about this fatal disease called ‘corona’, he added.
He impressed upon the community youth to make efforts to have a dialogue with tribal elders, Muqadams, Mehris, Deera heads to create awareness about the pandemic and importance of vaccination.
He said that Tribal foundation is collecting short messages from community leaders and social media influencers, Doctors, and Civil servants of tribal Communities in Gojri -a largely speaking tribal language to convince tribal people through social media pages, groups, channels etc. to get vaccinated and adhere all the COVID protocol during day-to-day affairs. In these messages Tribal were asked to avoid tribal festivals, social and religious gathering in view of large spread of deadly virus.
He said a number of messages are under circulations include one from a former Minister and Gaddi Nisheen Darbar Baba Ji sahib-Mian Altaf Ahmed, who has cited an example of his father, prominent saint Mian Bashir Ahmad, who got 2 shots of Covid vaccine in March-April this year, that too at the age of 100 and he (Mian Bashir Ahmad ) is now in good health.
Further, Corona messages of top doctors of the community are also recorded in Gojri and are being circulated in different areas to aware the nomadic population about COVId-19.
Those other who spoke include Ishtiaq Misbah, Zulkarnain, Nazir Chouhan, Wazir Mohd, Sardar Khatana others.
