Jammu, 23.06.2011
Hailing the decision of the paramilitary force, Special Service Bureau (SSB) to recruit 300 youths of Scheduled Caste (SC) community from J&K State in SSB through a special recruitment drive to be held late this year, the Gujjar and Bakerwal also demanded recruitment drive for the youths of their communities, who according to them are equally deserving and un-represented in this force. The Jammu Kashmir Tribal United Forum (TUF), a premiere organization working for the affairs of Gujjar and Bakerwal, in a special meeting held here today under the chairmanship of its state chief, Roshan Din Choudhary, strongly urged the J&K State Govt. and the higher authorities of SSB to take necessary steps for extending this special recruitment drive for the Scheduled Tribe of the State too.
On the occasion, Roshan Din Choudhary said that the Tribal population which constitute more than 10% of total population has already suffered a great loss in temporary and contractual recruitments made by the Govt. on the pattern of ReT, ReZ and Anganwadi worker etc. thus accrual of huge backlog be cleared through special recruitment drive in Police, health, education, engineering and other departments. He further appealed Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister to personally monitors the development of these marginalized sections.
Dr. Zabeer Ahmed Bajjar, General Secretary of TUF, stated that the tribal communities especially the Gujjar & Bakerwal are burdened under poverty, illiteracy and socio-economic backwardness. He also disclosed that the Gujjar & Bakerwal also suffered a loss of more than 28,000 posts in direct recruitment against 2,80,000 adhoc, contractual, stop gap and temporary appointments made by the government in last couple years. In order to ameliorate their sufferings and hardships, he appealed the State as well as Central Govt. to bring special employment & economic package for them.
Dr. Zabeer Bajjar further said the demand of raising of a full-fledged ‘Gujjar Regiment’ in the Army on the pattern of Jat, Raput and Dogra Regiments since 1947 is still pending and it is very high time now when government is considering special recruitment for SCs brothers in SSB that the Gujjar & Bakerwal of J&K could get justice.
In a memorandum sent to R.K.Shukla, Special Director, SSB, the leaders of TUF fervently appealed him to include the Scheduled Tribes of J&K in the special recruitment drive.
Prominent among others present who spoke on the occasion were Shah Mohd., Tanwir Ahmed, Adv. Tanzir Khatana, Khursheed-Ul-Islam, Adv. Pervaiz Choudhary, Taj Din and Razaq Ahmed.