Amid an internet shutdown in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu Kashmir, The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The Bill, opposed by the Gujjar Bakerwl community aims at empowering Pahari Ethnic Group, Padari Tribes, Koli and Gadda Brahmin by providing Scheduled Tribe status.
The inclusion of these communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Jammu Kashmir will have absolutely no impact on current level of reservations available to the existing Scheduled Tribe communities such as Gujjars and Bakarwals, s per the government. “They will continue to get reservation like before,” said the government in an official handout.
“Reservation to the newly listed Scheduled Tribes will be provided in such a manner that it does not cause any harm to the communities which are already listed as Scheduled Tribes. After the Bill is passed by the Parliament, the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will issue necessary notifications on reservation, which will ensure that the people included in the existing list of Scheduled Tribes continue to get the same level of reservation,” it added.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government is committed to inclusive development of every section and community of society with the mantra of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vishwas. Passage of the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is another significant step in this direction,” read the handout.
Earlier, internet was shutdown in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu Kashmir amid massive protests by the Gujjar Bakerwal community.