Dr. Banarsi Lal
As per 2011 Census, the tribal population of India is 10.43 crore which constitutes about 8.6 per cent of the total population. There are about 705 ethnic groups which are recognised as Scheduled Tribes. The draft of the ‘National Tribal Policy’ has characterized the concept with primitive traits, distinctive culture, shyness with the public at large, geographical isolation, social and economic backwardness. As per 2011 Census, 11.9 per cent population of J&K constitute as the tribal community which is about 0.14 per cent of the population of the country. Literacy rate among the tribals is also low. Guijars of Jammu and Kashmir are indigenously and culturally rich community which was listed in the category of Scheduled Tribe in 1991. Tribals play significant role in the overall regional development of J&K. Gujjars and Bakarwals are the third largest group in J&K after Kashmiri Muslims and Dogra community. Gujjars are widely distributed and maintain their ethnic hegemony. The Gujjars and Bakarwals are the predominant tribal communities in the intermediate hill zone of Jammu and Kashmir. They are mostly inhabitants of the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch followed by Anantnag, Udhampur, Reasi and Doda districts. Gujjars and Bakerwals continue to be a unique community with their own social, cultural and linguistic identities. They are predominantly rural as 95.3 per cent of them reside in villages. Adverse terrain conditions, inaccessibility of the areas, absence of all weather roads, lack of infrastructure facilities, unsteady agricultural economy and ignorance, added to the backwardness of the tribal population living in far-flung and difficult areas. Gojri language should be given due recognition, which has its long indigenous root and inalienable part of their culture. They are the dominant ethnic group of the region and should be fully involved in the development of J&K.
The term ‘nomad’ has been derived from Greek root word ‘nemo’ meaning pasture. The Dictionary meaning of nomad refers to that a category of people who own herds of cattle such as sheep, goats, buffaloes etc. and do not have a permanent home rather moving in search of pasture to feed their cattle. Nomadism is one oldest ways of life in the history of mankind. In present era, the highest numbers of pastoral nomads live in the South Asia. India alone is the home of five hundred nomadic groups i.e. 7 percent of total Indian population. Gujjar community of J&K inhabit mostly in the hilly regions of the Union Territory of J&K. Their major occupations are herding of buffaloes in the hilly pastures and cultivation of maize on the terraced hilly slopes. There is need to pave the path for their empowerment and integrate this nomadic community in the national mainstream which ultimately can be supportive in the development of J&K. The Gujjars and Bakarwals of the western Himalaya of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and its adjoining areas are such significant cultural groups, whose major section is still in nomadic stage. In Jammu and Kashmir, there are twelve scheduled tribes Iiving in different parts of J&k. These two tribal groups (Gujjars and Bakarwals) of Jammu and Kashmir constitute more than ten 10 per cent of J&K total population. The significant features of these tribal groups are not only their nomadic life style but also cultural syncretism and a long history in the Indian society. This significant section of our society plays an important role in the development process of J&K. The Scheduled Tribe status has been given to this nomadic group about two decades back. There is need to study the socio-cultural heritage of the Gujjar community and to explore constraints affecting their development and empowerment. Gujjar and other smaller tribal communities’ of Jammu and Kashmir have less per centage in the political and economic power structure. There is need to give emphasis in various developmental programmes and schemes for the tribals. There is scarcity of existing studies on these communities. Lack of information on latest technologies restricts their further scope of development and empowerment. There is an immense scope for an in-depth study of this significant community of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for the overwhelming majority of the tribal population in J&K. Agricultural modernization has since long been introduced in the tribal areas of J&K, primarily with a view to raise the level of income, standard of living and lifestyle of the tribal people.
Traditionally a pastoral nomadic or semi-nomadic group today leads to sedentary lives in the North and North Western part of the country. The people of this community are widely distributed in the states/Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra with disproportionate population size and density. The regional variation is not only in terms of their population but also in cultural pattern, customs, family marriage kinship, social hierarchy and occupation. Generally the Gujjars in the plains areas are agriculturalist while in mountainous region having live stocks and pastures. Like many other Indian communities, Gujjar community has gone through the process of acculturation in different regions. During this long process of cultural-contact, this group has accommodated and adapted with regional cultures during the course of migration and preserved its own cultural heritage. Different historians has propounded different theories for this significant Indian social group. Gurjars are traced from White Hun, Sythian tribes, Chalukya and other from 465 A.D. to 13 century A.D. One most prevalent theory is that, before entering in Indian sub-continent Gurjjars were the inhabitants of Gurjistan (presently in Georgia) a territory situated between the Black sea and Caspian sea, later on migrated eastward. There are some well known theories of Gujjar’s origin. Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir have no authentic historical records of their migration. There is also a scarcity of focused studies on Gujjar community. The lack of consensus about the” origin in Indian sub-continent is itself evidence of their long historical roots in this sub-continent. In India there is a wide spread of Gujjar community in more than eight states in India. This large distributed community is divided into endogamous sub-groups or sub-castes in different regions. These regional sub-groups have both similarity as well as diversity within the Gujjar community itself. Jammu and Kashmir has two major divisions of the Gujjar community on the basis of their occupation namely- Jamindar and Dhodhi. Further these sub-groups, like other Indian castes and sub- castes, are divided into various clans. These clans also vary from region to region or state to state. H. A. Rose (1919) in their ethnographic survey reported eight major clans in present Punjab region namely – Bhadana, Chala, Kasena, Munin, Tur, Chokar, Rawat and Madan. Rajasthan alone shows more than twenty nine clans. The ethnographic survey of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab reveals more than fifteen clans each. Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has reported only seven clans i.e. Kasana, Chechi, Padhana, Lodha, Khatana, Paswar and Bangri. There are evidences of similar clans existing in two or more regions. For instance, Poswal, Banjara, Chechi, Chohan or Chauhan, Gursi or Gorsi, Khatana, Bhadhana. Information of Gujjar sub-groups and clans are limited and insufficient owing to lack of enumeration based on caste population and their changes with time. Efforts are needed for their recognition and their share of empowerment. KVKs are playing a key role to educate and train the tribal farmers of J&K and upgarading their skills on modern agricultural and allied sectors technologies.
Though many attempts have been made through different schemes under Tribal Sub Plan for the upliftment of this section of people, the benefits accrued through such programmes were not sustainable as they were not trained to improve the land base available at their disposal for integrated farming and allied income generating activities. The government has been prioritizing the education of these nomadic communities at the grass-roots level to arm their children with education and knowledge. Many organisations are acquainting the tribal community with the scientific and sustainable crop and animal husbandry practices thus making their traditional practices more economical. Devising and demonstrating the integrated farming models at community farms are enabling them to take up agriculture and animal husbandry as an enterprise or vocation. Tribal people are provided quality seed, new breeds of livestock, poultry, farm machinery, timely fertilizers, marketing facilities etc. are ensuring income and employment opportunities for tribal population. They are facilitated in popularizing scientific and mechanized agriculture to increase their crop production and thus improving their livelihood. The hilly areas of J&K have tremendous scope for improving the productivity of major cereals especially maize and wheat. Also there is a good scope for increase in availability of fodder round the year. There is potential for increasing the area under vegetables, fruits and for developing floriculture industry in the region. Spices especially onion, garlic, ginger and turmeric which are at the dearth of extinction from some tribal areas of J&K can be boosted. There is need to revive these crops in the districts. The SHGs among the tribal women and FPOs formation can empower the tribal farmers of J&K.KVKs promoted organic and natural farming, mushroom farming, sericulture and backyard poultry farming etc. among the tribal farmers. Some specific programmes can be supportive to empower the tribal communities of Union Territory of J&K.
(The writer is Chief Scientist & Head of KVK Reasi SKUAST-J)
