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Category: INTERVIEWS/PROFILES

Published: 03 May 2019

JAMMU: Noted tribal scholar Dr. Javaid Rahi represented  Gujjar-Bakerwal tribes of Jammu and Kashmir in a  ‘National Policy Consultation’   programme held on ‘Temperate-Alpine Grasslands of Himalayan’. Organised by  Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru -a Govt body , with the support of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India the event was started on 29th  April, 2019 at  Sidkeong Tulku Forest Conference Hall, Forest Secretariat, Deorali, Gangtok, Sikkim for two days.

The main objective of this programme was to  prepare a draft of national policy to  regulate temperate-alpine grasslands in Indian Himalaya - which constitute a major  geographical area of the  country, and are spread across the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Dr. Javaid Rahi while speaking  on the topic stated Gujjars/ Bakerwals being pastoralists are the main stakeholder of grasslands. Talking about the issues being fronted  by the nomadic communities of Jammu and Kashmir – he stated stated that grazing lands must not be converted for any other purpose. He said that though  grazing has been, and continues to be, a controversial issue in the regions due to lack laws. He said , J&K  KAHACHARAI Act 1954 amended in 2011 provides some rights to nomads to use grazing lands but it requires total revamp with the consultation of tribes of state.

He said tribal of J&K deserves extension of similar rights as enjoyed by the  tribal communities of other states of India. He added that like Indian Tribes they must be given  rights on JAL (water) JANGAL (Forests) and JAMEEN (land) as committed. He has given various suggestion / inputs to ATREE and Ministry Officials with regards to compiling information on the conservation and livelihood values of temperate-alpine grasslands  and to promote the conservation of grazing lands  for sustainable use of  mitigatory communities. Dr. Javaid Rahi is a reputed scholar of the State who has written /edited/ compiled around 300 books in Gojri / about Gujjars of  J&K including 1st ever Dictionary of Gojri language.