TRCF demands for special census of Gujjars and Bakerwals of J&K

 Srinagar, May 16 (Scoop News) – Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation(TRCF) –a frontal body of Gujjars of state stressed  vigorously upon centre and state to jointly launch  an exclusive programme  to conduct a special  census  of  lakhs of nomadic and shelter-less  Gujjars and  Bakerwals of Jammu and Kashmir who are presently under seasonal migration along-with their livestock  to upper reaches of Northwestern Himalaya.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh  sent through Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation(TRCF) the community members demanded a correct enumeration of their tribe under “Shelter less category” in the course house listing  commenced  from yesterday.

Giving details about the letter, Dr Javaid Rahi, Secretary of the Foundation said that we demanded a special census of  around 6 to 8 Lakh nomadic and shelter less Gujjars and Bakerwals who are presently under migration through seven major routs towards upper reaches of  Pir Panchal, Shavalik and Trikuta Hills of Himalaya. He said Registrar General of India (RGI ) should  hold exclusive mapping to list the movement of nomads in Himalayan region of J&K and provide a new column in registration forms of census by introducing  "Nomadic Category" or “Shelter less category” which will help the enumerators to  accommodate a big chunk of tribal population during the process, who are otherwise feared to be left out of  the census 2011.

The letter reads  that Registrar General of India (RGI)  should make it possible  for nomadic communities  of Jammu and Kashmir to participate in this census going to held after the gap of ten year.

The letter further reads, in 2000,  the census report  left us un enumerated , and  Lakhs nomadic Gujjars who were on upper reaches at that point of time, in connection with annual migration ,had not been enumerated and reflected in the census report 2001 but  this year we request Prime Ministers office to intervene and direct RGI to re-schedule the dates of census in Jammu and Kashmir or to hold a special servey of nomads. The letter further said as the  houselisting and housing Census and canvassing of household schedule of National Population Register (NPR) is under way and would be completed in  June 2010 and during this period a big chunk of Gujjars will be in upper reaches so a spcieal and exclusive programme of holding census should be formulated at the earliest.

Dr. Rahi asked community member who are settled or belonging to agriculture class to co-operate with census officials and get themselves enumerated as ST community with Gojri as their mother tongue.

As per official notification issued by Registrar General of India (RGI) the first phase of Census 2011 would formally commence from 15 May to 30 June 2010 in accessible areas and from 16 July to 30 August 2010 in other  areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The Census  department is all set for census 2011 which is aimed at providing latest population figures and comprehensive picture of social and living conditions of the people of the State.

www.scoopnews.in