With winter knocking on the wobbly doors of their makeshift abodes, the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities of Jammu and Kashmir have once again drawn the attention of the authorities to their deplorable existence and possible dislocation.
Ahead of winter, both of these communities face the arduous task of moving down to the plains with their families and livestock.
Lack of education, houses and health facilities has been a constant problem for these nomadic tribes. The Gujjars and Bakarwals are also considered the best stewards for livestock in the country.
A senior government officer at Rajouri candidly admitted that more attention needed to be paid to solve the problems of both of these communities.
"The government needs to pay a lot of attention on the community of Gujjars and Bakarwals, which are the migratory population. They are the backbone of this country, they handle the maximum livestock, and we think the government should provide more funds to help this community," said Dr. Vinod Kumar, Regional Director of Animal Husbandry, Rajouri.
These herders make their homes at the base of any hillock or in the valleys. Due to their traditional lifestyle, their children are deprived of education and they do not get much medical attention. (ANI)
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