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J&K:
Endangered rights of Gujjars
Zabeer
A Bajjar
Gujjars
and Bakerwals, the third largest population of Jammu &
Kashmir, though bears a glorious past down the ages afterward got
oppressed by certain classes. Resultantly adopted the pastoral and
herdsman occupation. This occupation further rendered them backward
& nomadic, found moving from place to place in the search of
food for their cattle. In the summer, establish transit stay known
as Dhok at the foothills of Pir Panjal and sub-Himalayan belt
and start moving down to the plains in winter. Despite having
nomadic life, they are the people whose conduct is really admirable
as ever remain cheerful faces. Among some good qualities worth
mention are their clear heartedness, courage and honesty. This
attributes to their peace of mind and contentment. Famous saying of Dr.
Alama Iqbal hold good for them,
“
Zindgi Zinda Dilli Ka Naam Heh, Murda Dil Kiya Khak Jiya Karte
Hein”.
They
have been described variously in the unkindest terms and in the most
romantic form of speech. But their misfortune has been that they
have always been subject of history, quite dissimilar from being a
participant. They have been portrayed as good or bad but never given
an apposed place when they could swap the role with their critics.
Or, may be, that was a way for the mother nature to preserve them
from the cut-throat-world around them, influenced and pure, perhaps
to serve as a model of grace.
They
had sigh of relief when the government of India, realizing their
plight of socio-economic backwardness, declared them Scheduled
Tribe. Although many political and non-political organizations
played vital role in getting this declaration in their favor, it was
nothing extra to the constitutional provisions bestowed upon them.
Following this, the state government had point in time to give this
community their share of socio-economic development at par with the
other sections of the society to culminate the ages long
disparity.
The
state government also appeared to have initiated some moves for the
mitigation of grievances of these nomadic Gujjars with regard to
unabashed machination being resorted by vested interests to usurp
and deprive the genuine Gujjars of the statutory concessions
guaranteed to them under reservation laws adopted with the aim of
ensuring parity in the dispensation of social justice and removal of
imbalances & disparities in the socio-economic progress among
different sections of the society. However, it is awfully sorry
state of the affairs that even after fifteen years of ST status, the
community still want of any remarkable changeover from pre- to post
period of ST status. It may be mentioned here that very thin number
of people could make to get employment in various departments whose
number would have been same in the absence of this special status.
Very
simple, implementation of constitutional provisions meant for the
safeguard of rights of Gujjars and Bakerwals could have eased the
whole process. Issuance of scheduled tribe certificate that too
after huge gratification and palm greasing of revenue officials
appeared as first step incentive accorded towards the ST benefits.
The goal of under consideration problem could only be
achieved if the implementation of reservation policy for employment,
promotion, execution of development & various others schemes
were followed and the defaulter, if any, penalized.
But everybody knows and the government itself had proven the
fact that only 1% reservation has been implemented for SC/ST both.
Likewise, other reservation benefits are being diluted &
evaporated before percolation to the deserved people. To cite few
instances, deplorable conditions of Gujjars Hostels, huge dwindling
tribal funds, gross violation of employment reservation roster,
depriving promotional benefits & concessions and so on are
apparent.
The
community lived off nature for centuries, when miseries,
exploitability and victimization remained instrumental in their
backwardness which even continued till contemporary time. This group
of people remained victimized and exploited at the hands of upper
class socio-economically well developed non- Gujjars. The Gujjars
were treated as inferior creature and tagged with social stigma.
Atrocities on them had been on and on which even crossed every
height and depth. One can easily judge the type of grudge
towards Gujjars. In the last assembly election, a particular
party has given mandate to a young dynamic Gujjar leader. Upon this
the upper castes deserted that party, which once they used to claim
their birthright.
The
people from other backward classes who too were oppressed came out
to thwart this ill design and they have finally proved it. Such
kinds of manifestations here and there led to the frustration, which
finally metamorphosed to master, planned conspiracy being hatched to
achieve political mileage. The reference is to no other than an
amalgam of upper castes people joined under the imaginary umbrella
of “Pahari Speaking People” claim to
be entitled for Scheduled Tribe status. These well-settled people
are trying to just infringe the rights of Gujjars and Bakerwals. As
very rightly said by one Gujjar leader a couple of days hence while
talking to newsperson, “The Pahari population is well settled,
this is unjust as the Pahari community cannot claim to be
socio-economically backward” and “The Gujjars lead a nomadic
life and the granting of Schedule Tribe status to them would reduce
our share in the reserved category”. Doubtlessly, the Pahari are
coming from sound and royal families, well settled in villages and
cities as well. This present illusory movement posed a danger to the
constitutional rights of Gujjars for which they have still been
longing.
The
author himself has no intention to hurt the sentiments of any
particular section. However, the issue highlighted has no legitimate
foundation and demands rectification.
Staking claim and launching agitation for the scheduled tribe
status reflects as they are Tribals. But as on now they aren’t as
technically they don’t possess even single criterion laid for
granting Scheduled Tribe. In order to build their claim aver strong,
they are required to lead nomadic life for ages together. Such
setting would homogenize their socio-economic conditions with that
of existing tribes. Hopefully, then the government would itself
recognize these sections thus ending the whole turbulence.
For
Gujjars, the stage has surpassed now when culture, heritage and
their presence alone would sustain them. Modern is the era of
information technology, industrial revolution, and global market.
Safeguard of constitutional rights of Gujjars & Bakerwals and
practical implementations reservation benefits are short of
concerted efforts by all quarters. This responsibility is also
obligated to the organizations like Gurjar Desh Charitable trust,
Gujjar Conference, Gujjar United Front, GSF and GIC individually as
well as collectively lest the departure would be imminent. Well said
by Dr. Alama Iqbal,
“Tehkeer-E-
Khudhi Heh Ruk Jana, Toheen - E- Khirad Heh Juk Jana,
Her
Gham Peh Sajjda Ker Lehna, Khudhar Jabeen Ka Kaam Nahein”. |
