STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Batwal Welfare Association urged upon the Government of India to sanction of a special economic package for Batwal community based on the survey report of their ethnographic study undertaken by the Central Planning Commission in 1994.
In the meeting held here on Sunday, the participants discussed the socio-economic condition of Batwal community people of urban, rural and hilly areas living in acute poverty.
Association President, Sat Paul Lakhotra said that in 1994, the Government of India with an object to ameliorate the living standard of the Batwal community members, launched a study to assess their socio, economic and cultural life in the J and K State. The field work, as laid down by the Planning Commission, started in about forty villages of Jammu region, got completed by the end of April, 1995. Thereafter, the then Deputy Registrar General, India visited the State and exchanged the views with the elite of the Batwal community to explore the ethnographic/anthropological back ground and other related details and also collected the Survey Report from the Directorate of Census Operations, J and K but even after passage of twenty three years, nothing has been done for the uplift of the Batwal community, added Lakhotra. Earlier, the association members prayed for eternal peace for the departed souls of Major Kamlesh Pandey and Sepoy Tanjin Chhultim of 62 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) who were killed in firing by militants at Zainapora in Shopian District of Kashmir during a cordon and search operation.
Among others who attended the meeting include Capt Om Parkash Tugga, Capt Kamal Chand Motan, Sub Maj Romesh Sargora, Sub. Maj Gunni Ram Kaith, Sub. Maj. Thoru Ram Mandi, Sub. Narayan Dass Bassa, Hav. Des Raj Kaith, Hav. Rattan Lal Motan, Naib Sarpanch Ram Lal Lakhotra, Numberdar Sardari Lal Kaith, Master Naresh Kumar, Mela Ram Tugga and Kamal Singh Kaith.
