Jammu: Demanding a "special census" for
lakhs of nomadic and semi-nomadic Gujjars-Bakerwals of Jammu
and Kashmir, the community has expressed distress over their
exclusion in the first phase of Census 2011.
In an appeal to the Union Government sent through Tribal
Research and Cultural Foundation, a frontal body of Gujjars of
the state, they appealed for a correct enumeration of their
tribe in the second and last phase of Census 2011 under a new
column "Nomadic or Shelter Less Category".
"A special census of around 6 lakh nomadic, semi nomadic
and shelterless Gujjars, Bakerwals and other migratory
communities is demanded by us," secretary of the foundation
Javaid Rahi said.
He suggested that Registrar General and Census
Commissioner of India should hold exclusive mapping to list
the movement of nomads in Himalayan region.
"We appeal the Prime Minister`s office to intervene and
direct RGI to conduct special census of Gujjar-Bakerwal nomads
in J&K and enter them in National Population Register (NPR)
under a special and exclusive programme," he said.
PTI