By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar: Expressing their dismay over the non-inclusion of Muslim Gujjars in the recommendations of Justice Rajinder Sachar, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation has urged the prime minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh to make necessary amendment in Sachar Committee Report so that the community may not feel isolated.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister, the Foundation sought the amendment so as to include the problems and difficulties being faced by Nomadic Muslim Tribes of India, as this important sector has been left unaddressed and unattended by the Committee, constituted by Prime Minister of India to asses the Social, Educational and Economical Status of Muslims in India.
The Foundation claimed that the Report mainly focused its attention only on the issues of settled Muslims – OBC’s, BPL, MBC and other lower casts – while ignoring the Muslim nomadic Tribes of India including Scheduled Tribe Gujjars of J&K and Himachal Pradesh..
Providing details, Dr. Javaid Rahi, National Secretary of Foundation said that it is surprising that the Sachar Committee Report comprising of over 404 Pages does not incorporate even the word or term of ” Nomadic Muslims” or “Muslim Tribes” therefore no such step has been suggested in its recommendations for the rehabilitation of Muslim Nomads and other upliftment, as their problems are totally different and worst then other settled Muslim Communities of India.
The report, he said, is also silent about the legitimate rights of Tribals including Mobile system of Education, right of franchise for Muslim nomads, recognition of Traditional judiciary System popular in Muslim Tribes, Political empowerment of Muslim STs, socio-economic safeguards to nomads, issue related to ethnic, cultural and lingual identity of lakhs of Nomadic Tribals including the Gujjar Muslims, wandering in Himalayan belt of Northern India.
“We are pursuing for amendments in Sachar Committee Report when it has been released for public in New Delhi, Dr. Javaid Rahi added. Our representatives have deliberations with the members of Sacher Committee at Jammu during preparation of reports and apprised them of the factual position demands and suggestions but this important aspect has totally been left unaddressed.” said Dr. Rahi.