JAMMU, Feb 06: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today hailed the passing of the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in Lok Sabha.
In his statement, Lt. Governor Sinha hailed the passage of the bill, which grants scheduled tribe status to Paharis, Padari Tribes, Koli & Gadda Brahmin, fulfilling a long-pending demand of these communities.
He emphasized the government’s commitment, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, to ensure that the inclusion of these communities in the Scheduled Tribes list would not affect the current level of reservations available to Gujjars, Bakarwals, and other tribes. They will continue to receive reservations as before.
Upon clearance in Rajya Sabha, the UT administration will issue necessary notifications to ensure that the newly included communities receive the same level of reservation benefits as the existing Scheduled Tribes.
Lt. Governor Sinha reiterated the administration’s dedication to building a Jammu and Kashmir focused on balanced development, benefiting all sections of society with the mantra of inclusive development. He also urged people and community elders to responsibly counter any misinformation spread by miscreants regarding reservation levels for the communities.
Furthermore, he reassured that the inclusion of new communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes would not impact the current reservation levels available to existing Scheduled Tribe communities such as Gujjars and Bakarwals.