Gujjars and Bakerwals -the main tribal groups of Jammu and Kashmir today demanded that their socio-political and ethno-cultural identity and individuality as tribes of the state should be safeguarded.
While participating in a function organised by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation here ‘ Tribal Rights in India -an over view of J&K’ the participants said that that the government should protect “our unique identity like other state saved their tribes.”
They said, “We should be provided with identical rights which were granted to other ST communities in India.”
Chairman of the foundation Dr Javed Rahi, in his presidential address stated that the tribes of Jammu and Kashmir practising old traditions of sessional migrations and animal raring as such they deserved to be treated at par with other tribes of India. He stated that the tribal culture and age old heritage is dying down rapidly which needs to be reserved at every cost.
The speakers said that tribes of J&K state are very less empowered as compare to ST communities of other states in India. “There is no mention of special article / rights/ provisions of tribal groups in our state Constitution. The other states of India gives special rights to nomadic/tribes to protect the distinctiveness,” they said.