Shamsher Hakla Poonchi, Gujjar leader today said that the budget 2018 presented in the state assembly yesterday, had nothing to offer to the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities of J&K.
Hakla in a statement said that Gujjar and Bakarwal communities of J&K mostly reside in hilly, far-flung and mountainous areas near forests and along the LoC and Indo-Pak border.
“These communities have their habitations in almost twenty districts of J&K. The areas they do live at have no facilities like road communication, electricity, water supply, medicare and education.
“The needs and the problems of Gujjar Bakarwal communities are quite different from other communities of J&K state.
“Language and culture of Gujjar Bakarwal is also different from other communities of J&K state and as such the communities have a distinct identity and a peculiar position.”
Hakla said that Gujjar Bakarwal of J&K state are socially, educationally, economically and politically backward.
Hakla criticized the J&K government for not looking after the welfare and development of these communities.
He said this is a matter of great disappointment that the Chief-Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Finance Minister Haseeb Darabu did not pay attention to the Gujjar Bakarwal communities in the budget.