National Conference holds One-Day Gujjar-Bakarwal Conference in Jammu

• NC committed to the welfare and upliftment of Tribals, asserts Javed Rana

JAMMU: A one-day conference of the Gujjar-Bakarwal community was organized by the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan, with the aim of addressing the issues and challenges faced by the Tribal population in the Union Territory. The conference presided by Mr Rattan Lal Gupta Provincial President Jammu Province in which Javed Ahmad Rana Honble Minister was Chief Guest  and Ajay Kumar Sadhotra former minister and Additional General Secretary was Guest of honor others who were participated Mr Javed Iqbal MLA Budhal, Mr Khurshid Ahmad MLA Gulabagarh and Pyare Lal Sharma MLA Inderwal.  

The meeting began with Ch. Bashir Khatana and Ch. Salam Din highlighting the plight of the Tribal population over the last decade under the BJP-led administration, which they said had failed to address the socio-economic challenges faced by the Gujjar-Bakarwal community.  

Speaking on the occasion, Javed Ahmed Rana reaffirmed JKNC’s unwavering commitment to the welfare and upliftment of the Tribal community. He also emphasized the importance of empowering Tribal youth through education, skill development, and employment opportunities. He assured that a future JKNC-led government would take concrete measures to bridge the gaps created by the previous administration.  The National Conference has always championed inclusivity and will ensure that the voices of the Gujjar-Bakarwal community are heard and their rights safeguarded under the dynamic leadership of Omar Abdullah.

Mr Rana further said that govt will take due care of the demands put forth in the conference such as implementation of Forest Act, Transportation for the movement their livestock, Construction of Cattle Sheds after every 25 Kms on the way of hilly areas for their safety, Seasonal Schools where they move in clusters. He assured the tribal community present in the meeting that issued raised by them in the meeting would be looked into sympathetically.

The conference concluded with a pledge by the JKNC leaders to intensify their efforts to address the concerns of the Tribal community and work towards their holistic development. Party workers and attendees lauded the leadership of JKNC and expressed hope for a brighter future under its vision of equitable development.

MLA Budhal Javed Iqbal called for immediate policy interventions to address the pressing issues faced by the Tribal community, including access to basic amenities, healthcare, and education. He said, "It is disheartening to see the hardships faced by the Gujjar-Bakarwal community, especially in remote areas. JKNC is determined to provide a dignified life to all marginalized sections and rectify the policy failures of the past decade."

MLA Gulabgarh Kurshid Ahmad and Pyare Lal Sharma MLA Inderwal highlighted the lack of infrastructure in Tribal areas and urged the community to unite under the leadership of JKNC. They added, "We need to ensure that the Gujjar-Bakarwal community receives its rightful share of development and representation in governance."They have also identified the main demands of tribal community in their respective areas of Gulabgarh and Inderwal Constituencies.

Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta, in his address, criticized the BJP government for abandoning the inclusive policies initiated by the previous NC governments. He stated, "The BJP regime has marginalized the Tribal population, depriving them of basic rights and benefits. He criticized the BJP for neglecting the marginalized sections of society, stating, "The past ten years have seen a systematic disregard for the rights and welfare of Tribals in Jammu and Kashmir.  National Conference under the visionary leadership of Dr Farooq Abdullah and Our dynamic Chief Minister Omar Abdullah remains steadfast in its commitment to the empowerment of all communities, especially the Gujjar-Bakarwal population."

Those who were present in the meeting included : Sheikh Bashir Ahmad Provincial Secretary,Abdul Gani Malik former minister and Zonal President Udhampur Reasi,  Vijay Lochan Chairman SC Cell, Arif Mir Provincial Secretary Jammu, Jugal Mahajan Treasurer, Shamim Begum DDC Dansal, Shamima Akther DDC Gandhri (Ramban),  Laxmi Datta Sr leader, Ch. Rehmat Ali former Chairman BDC Rakesh Singh Raka, Ch. Rafiq,  Mohinder Singh, Rita Gupta, Dilshad Malik Vice Presidents Central Zone,Harshvardhan Singh President NCSU, Mohinder Kumar Rana Joint Secretary Central Zone,Ch. Hasham Din, Noor Mohd, Mohd Dalimir, Qasim Din Bania, Karam Din Chopra, Razak Choudhary, Mohd Sharief Bania, Ch. Noor Mahi, Zaffar Kohli, Ch. Fareed Ahmad, Mushtaq Ahmad Khatana, Mohd Shafi, Haji Mohd Ibrahim, Siraj Din and others.