KL Report
Srinagar
Bhartiya Gujjar Maha Sabha has slammed the State Govt. for its apathetic approach and response towards the burning issues of schedule Tribe communities (Gujjar bakkerwal) despite number of requests and memorandums submitted to it time and again.
Addressing a press conference, State President Ishfaq –Ur-Rehman Poswal said that the State Govt. is not serious about the plight of gujjars and bakerwals despite having been directed by the Central Government as well as President of India to take notice of the problems of these communities. Poswal said that he had called on President of India Pranab Mukherjee on September 27 of last year during his visit to Srinagar and apprised him of the several problems confronting Gujjars and bakerwals of the State including mis utilization of funds under Tribal Sub Plan, Ban on inter district recruitment, political reservation, recruitment of youth in belt forces besides other issues.
He informed that President of India after taking due notice of the issues raised by him, wrote a letter to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under President’s Secretariat ID Note: 18/10/P(1)2012 dated 4-10-2012 which further conveyed to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India. Tribal Affairs Ministry then through letter to the State Govt.
Jammu & Kashmir, under D.O No. 20028/02/2012-SG-II dated 13-12-2012, asked it to give a detailed point wise response to the two petitions filled by Eshfaq-Ur-Rehman Poswal without any further delay. The Tribal affairs Ministry also expressed this concern over the State Govt.’s poor response over the matter despite serious concerns raised by the petitioners.
Poswal further informed that a delegation of Bhartiya Gujjar Maha Sabha led by him had also called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah some days back to apprise him of the burning problems of Schedule Tribe communities (Gujjar Bakerwals). He said that they informed the CM about the mis-utilization of funds under Triibal Sub Plan and demanded from him to create Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the state to ensure proper utilization of funds at the block level. He said that so far no action has been taken in this regard. He also said that the delegation also called Governor NN Vohra a few days back and requested him to intervene in the matter as head of the state so that problems confronting the ST communities are addressed They also handed over the copy of memorandum which they had submitted to the president of India during his visit to the State. Poswal said that in response to the RTI which he had filed to know the utilization of Funds under Tribal Sub Plan, also revealed that large amounts of funds has either been misutilised or have not been spent.
He also said that he as President of the Sabha had called on Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde last year and had requested him to provide security. He said that Shinde in this regard had directed ADG security to provide security to him but the same has been not provided so far. Poswal added that State Govt. would be fully responsible for any untoward incident that happens to him in view of the threats he has been receiving.
