Van Gujjars of Uttarakhand demand ST status

The Van Gujjars of Uttarakhand today demanded Scheduled Tribe status for themselves setting the state government a deadline of one month to pass a resolution in this regard.
The forest dwelling community also demanded land leases for Gujjars resettled in areas outside forested areas threatening to hold demonstrations in Delhi if the government failed to meet the deadline set by them for conceding the twin demands.
Van Gujjars, a community that resides in areas adjacent to the Rajaji National Park and the forests of Garhwal region, gathered at the premises of an NGO run by human rights activist Padmashree Avadhesh Kaushal to chalk out a strategy to mount pressure on the government for fulfilment of their demands.

"If their demands are not fulfilled within a month, they have decided to stage a demonstration at Jantar Mantar," Kaushal said.
Kaushal said he had already taken up the issue of Van Gujjars with Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna but if something concrete is not done to address their problems he will arrange their meeting with AICC chief Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi.