The Gadda Brahmin community in Jammu Kashmir, recently granted Scheduled Tribe (ST) status alongside Paharis, Kolis, and Paddri communities earlier this year, has expressed concerns over the misuse of this status by outsiders.
According to The Tribune, the community fears that individuals from unrelated groups may fraudulently obtain ST certificates to access benefits meant for Gadda Brahmins.
Since the community’s inclusion under the ST category in February 2024, making them eligible for reserved spots in education and government jobs, members have reported cases of non-community individuals applying for ST certificates under their name. Shiv Kumar, president of the Gadda Brahmin Sabha, pointed out that the ambiguity in revenue records is being exploited, as these records do not explicitly list “Gadda Brahmin” but mention various sub-castes.
Despite submitting a list of recognized sub-castes to authorities, instances of unrelated sub-castes applying for ST status under the Gadda Brahmin category continue. Kumar previously approached Justice GD Sharma (retd), chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission, to address the issue. While Justice Sharma has raised the matter with the Social Welfare Department, the problem remains unresolved.
Kumar highlighted the continued poor living conditions of the Gadda Brahmins despite their ST status.
He has called on the Jammu and Kashmir administration to improve infrastructure in areas where the community resides, particularly in the districts of Udhampur, Doda, and Kathua.
These regions, also home to other groups like Gaddis and Sippis who already have ST status, are traditionally served by the Gadda Brahmins for religious ceremonies.
In a recent meeting with Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, Kumar urged the formation of a Gadda Brahmin Vikas Board for their development and demanded infrastructure upgrades in their villages.
With fewer than one lakh members across the region, the Gadda Brahmin community remains a small minority, but their concerns over the misuse of ST status and their appeal for improved living conditions underscore the ongoing challenges they face.