J-K LG Sinha Hails Lok Sabha’s Passage of Bill Adding 4 Communities to ST List

GG News Bureau
Jammu, 7th Feb. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday hailed the Lok Sabha’s approval of a significant bill aimed at revising the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes lists in the region. The bill, titled the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, proposes the addition of four communities—Gadda Brahmin, Koli, Paddari Tribe, and Pahari Ethnic Group—to the Scheduled Tribes list in Jammu and Kashmir.

Describing the event as historic, the Lt Governor expressed satisfaction that the long-standing demand of these communities had been fulfilled. He assured that the inclusion of these communities in the Scheduled Tribes list would not affect the current reservations available to Gujjars, Bakarwals, and other tribes.

Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership in ensuring the inclusion of these communities, Sinha reiterated that existing Scheduled Tribe communities would retain their current level of reservations. He emphasized that necessary notifications would be issued by the UT administration following the bill’s clearance in the Rajya Sabha.

Sinha also urged the public and community leaders to counter any misinformation regarding reservation levels for the communities, reaffirming that the inclusion of new communities would not diminish the reservations available to existing Scheduled Tribe communities like Gujjars and Bakarwals.

In recent times, opposition from Gujjars and Bakarwals has surfaced regarding the grant of Scheduled Tribes status to the Pahari community, citing concerns about their tribal identity.