A prominent Gujjar leader from Jammu and Kashmir has demanded extension of full benefits of Schedule Tribe (ST) status to Gujjars in the state like members of the community in the rest of the country.
"The government of India provided ST status to Gujjars and Bakerwals in 1991 but the government of Jammu and Kashmir has not been able to give full benefits of the status to the communities," Shamsheer Hakla Poonchi said in a statement.
Gujjar and Bakerwal communities of the state were still socially, educationally and politically backward and urgent steps are required for their uplift, he said.
"It is the duty of the state government to uplift the status of the community. The first step of the government should be to extend ST status for the community in the state," he said.
