The nomadic Gujjar and Bakerwal community of the State demanded that the quota for admission of their wards in the State universities and the colleges should be enhanced.
They were speaking in a programme organised here by the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation to discuss various aspects of admission issues including quota for STs and Gujjars of the State.
As per the release, the programme was presided over by noted Gujjar scholar and author DrJavaidRahi and attended by community elders and youth.
In his address, DrJavaidRahi stated that only education can change the future of their tribe. He impressed upon Gujjars youth for striving hard to achieve educational goals and get equipped with skills and education. He also asked the community students to target for their studies the top national universities and focusing on competitive exams.
Earlier, it was informed to the participants that the foundation has written to vice-chancellors of several varsities for the enhancement of seats for Gujjar-Bakrwal students.
Rahi also informed the participants that the foundation was planning to establish a guidance cell in the State to guide the community youth in getting admissions, jobs under ST category in country in general and State in particular.
The speakers on the occasion stated that presently, there is a 6% reservation for Gujjars and Bakerwals in admission in government professional colleges of J&K as against 14.9% population of STs, Gujjars and Bakrwals, in the State as per census 2011.
The speakers said that there is an urgent need to implement, monitor and evaluate continuously the reservation policy in universities and colleges and plan measures for ensuring effective implementation of the policies and programmes of the government meant to uplift tribal population.
Other who spoke in the meeting includes IshtiaqMIsbah, NaveedChoudhary, Amir Choudhary, Mohammad Shrief, Kher-ud Din Chowdhary, NoushadChowdhary and others.