Srinagar: Apprehensive of being left out of
the ongoing census operations, Gujjars and Bakerwals of Jammu
and Kashmir today demanded a special census for the nomadic
community currently under seasonal migration to northwestern
Himalayas.
In a letter to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh written
on behalf of the community by Tribal Research and Cultural
Foundation, said, "A special census of the nomadic and
shelterless Gujjars and Bakerwals of Jammu and Kashmir is all
the more necessary as the community is presently under
seasonal migration along with their livestock to upper reaches
of northwestern Himalayas."
Giving details of the letter, Javaid Rahi, Secretary of
the Foundation said, "We demanded a special census of the
nomadic community with a population of around 6 to 8 Lakh who
are presently migrating through seven major routs towards the
upper reaches of Pir Panchal, Shavalik and Trikuta Hills of
the Himalayas."
He said the Registrar General of India 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 "Shelterless
category" which will help the enumerators to accommodate a big
chunk of tribal population in the process, who are otherwise
feared to be left out of the census 2011.
The community members also demanded a correct enumeration
of their tribe under "shelterless category" in the course of
house listing that commenced in the state yesterday.
PTI
