J&K Gujjars demanded Forest Rights Act in state

Jammu, November 08(Vijay Kumar)- The Gujjars of the Jammu and Kashmir State today demanded the identical and similar rights on Forests, constitutionally been made available to other scheduled tribe communities in Indian states. They Seek intervention of Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh over the issue of extending “Forest Rights Act 2006” to Jammu and Kashmir,

In a detailed ten pages letter addressed to PM, the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation-a premier organization of Gujjars has stated that in J&K more than 95% of “nomadic Gujjars” are landless, shelter less and deserves dwelling rights on forest lands which they are using as traditional inhabitants  since centuries together.

Giving details, Dr. Javaid Rahi, national secretary of Tribal Foundation said “we wrote to PM that the equitable growth of country and state can not be achieved without guaranteeing the legitimate rights to  hitherto marginalized and isolated sections  of our society mainly the Gujjars of the state which constitute more than 85% of the total tribal population J&K”.

“Its urgently  needed to empower the nomadic community with the means to determine their own destiny, their livelihood, their own security and above all their dignity and self respect and all these can be  achieved only by way of giving them the forest rights in J&K, Dr. Javaid Rahi added." 

To give benefits to Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, the Forest legislation was passed by Indian Parliament on December 18, 2006 and was subsequently implemented in all the major States of India except Jammu and Kashmir .

Due to the presence article 370 this Act can not be extend directly to J&K without a legislation, the letter reads.  The letter further urged the Prime Minister to intervene and direct J&K to issue a SRO immediately in this regard so as to provide rights on forests to dwelling communities over the land and other resources, denied to them over decades.

The letter further reads that  with the extension of  Forest Rights Act to Jammu and Kashmir state it will have a multiple ,  forereaching  and positive  impact on states economy and   will defiantly  redress the "historical injustice" committed against Gujjars-  the major dwellers and conservators of forests.

The letter further said we the Gujjars  have been protecting forests against mafias, land grabbers but as per laws available,  till date protection of forests by any community   is illegal  here in Jammu and Kashmir which is unjust ,bizarre and against  tribal rights.

The letter further reads  that “systematic exploitation and social and economic abuse” of the tribal Gujjars must be end  and mobilize  their energy towards  controlling and protecting natural resources of State including forests.

The letter reads forests are the home of lakhs  of nomadic Gujjars in J&K and they are to be declared as a forest protector by  settling them properly and lawfully.

The letter further said that Dogra rulers of the State had granted the Gujjars Forest Rights but later with the establishment of Forest department after 50s  the same was snatched by the successive governments and  we are just demanding the restoration only our rights on Forests.

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