By TwoCircles.net, Staff Reporter,
Jammu: The legislators belonging to tribal community from the state of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, December 5 have threatened a mass-agitation over non-release of funds under Tribal Sub Plan during the current financial year which are supposed to be released by Government of India.
Senior Gujjar leader and MLA Kangan, Mian Altaf Ahmed, MLA Kargil, Asgar Ali Karbalai and MLA Surankote, Choudhary Mohd Akram in a joint press conference on Saturday expressed their concern over J&K government ignoring their community.
They alleged that till date no funds have been released under Tribal Sub Plan for the current financial year.
“Not single work is being done under this plan. In Kashmir, winter season is beginning and developmental works would not be done now till end of the January 2016. The Government should have released funds in time so that works could be done in time,” they said while briefing the press.
“The funds for releasing subsidy component are being provided by Central Government through the State Government under Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Special Component Plan (SCP) & Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) for SCs & STs,” they added.
The leaders demanded for immediate release of funds under Tribal Sub Plan and Article 375.
Importantly, the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) is a programme funded by Government of India to uplift the economic condition of tribal farmers. Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR) is implementing TSP across the country in various tribal belts from 2011-12.
They further said that in September 2014 due to inundation of valley, Gujjar- Bakerwal Hostel in Srinagar got damaged which has not been repaired till date. 100 students are living in damaged hostel building.
Tribal communities like Bakerwals and Gujjars who usually start their biannual seasonal migration in March to the upper reaches of Shivalik, Pir Panchal and Trikuta hills of the Himalayas from the plains of Jammu and return in October-November to Rajouri, Reasi, Kathua and other areas of Jammu region are being harassed, these leaders claimed, demanding from the government to ensure their safety during migration.