Implement SC/ST Act in state too: Gujjars

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 22

Demanding extension of the Scheduled Castes (SC)/Scheduled Tribes (ST) (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to Jammu and Kashmir, members of the Gujjar community today said with the implementation of the act in the state, the fundamental, socio-economic, political, and cultural rights of weaker sections could be protected.

The community members were speaking at a programme organised by the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation on the topic, ‘Tribal and social equality in J&K state’, in Rajouri. The programme was presided over by tribal researcher Javaid Rahi.

Speaking on the occasion, Rahi said to provide social equality to tribals and Dalits in J&K, the act must be extended to J&K state so that the SC and ST communities got similar rights which were available to their community members residing in the rest of the country.

He said such a provision, if extended to J&K, could prevent atrocities against SCs and STs and would help to eliminate humiliation and harassment meted out to these communities. He said to establish an unbiased society, this act or a similar act was required in J&K.