Include nomadic tribes in BPL category: Gujjars

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 17

Facing many hardships due to the migratory way of their life, the Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir today stressed upon the government to include them in the below poverty line (BPL) category by conducting a comprehensive survey on the socio-economic status of nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes of the state.

The community members were speaking in a programme organised by the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation held here on the topic “Economic issues of nomadic tribes of Jammu and Kashmir - with special focus on Gujjars, Bakerwals”. The event was presided over by noted Gujjar scholar Javaid Rahi and it was attended by tribal students, scholars and elders.

Javaid Rahi stated that it was unfortunate that a large number of nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes had remained out of the purview of social security schemes launched by the Government of India and the state government from time to time due to the lack of awareness amongst them.

“To address the issues, an exclusive socio-economic survey of nomadic and semi-nomadic community be conducted. Ground measures are required to enroll nomadic and semi-nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals after an exclusive survey which, in result, enabled tribals to get social security schemes and the grant of the BPL and other mobile cards,” he said.

He stressed that an exclusive survey on the issue of “access of tribes to health services” was also required to address their health issues, including women and child health, malnutrition, immunisation, elders health and others ailments.