Gujjars loose unique Yarkandi-Bakerwali Horse: Study

JAMMU, JAN 31: The nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals have lost the rare traditional , indigenous and unique specie of “Yarkandi-Bakerwali” horse during past decades and three other rare native species of horses distinctive with them since centuries are considered most threatened in the world and likely to evaporate in next few decades said a study conducted by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation-a national organization working on Gujjars. Releasing the study, Dr. Javed Rahi, Secretary of the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, told: "In the last 40 years the nomadic Gujjars have lost at least a dozen rare indigenous species animals including most popular “Yarkandi-Bakerwali’ spices of horse idiosyncratic with shepherd Bakerwals - and three other species called Bharssi , Janskari and Kaliani are disappearing fastly. He said the Yarkandi-Bakerwali specie of horse was distinctive with migratory Gujjars since 500 AD when they migrated towards India and settled here in Himalayan region. As per study the unique spices of Yarkandi-Bakerwali horse had disappeared due to wrong policies of Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) under Union Ministry of Agriculture who introduced certain new breeds to get more results in Himalayan Belts ". We have totally lost this unique specie since early seventies, the study said. The study observed that "Most of Gujjars and Bakerwals who are unhappy with new species available after cross breeding of their livestock wish to switch over to their traditional breeds but such species do not exist anywhere in the Himalayan belt of India.

In same difficult areas of the Himalayan Region some of the new breeds of horses have almost failed to deliver the required results and in the meanwhile the rarest rare of species which were for mountainous and cold regions of the area have been finished to take the place, said the study. It is astonishing that no genetic study has been ever conducted to preserved the distinct characteristics of the primitive traditional specie of the horse distinctive with Gujjars and Bakerwals and without the knowledge of consequences, such species have lost their existence, the study said . The study said when new species of horses were Introduced no steps were taken at that point of time for preservation of indigenous spices with nomads with the result where cross breed does not work they are not in a position to switch back to original species.

The study, in the end, has hoped that it is possible a few Yarkandi-Bakerwali spice of horse idiosyncratic with nomadic Gujjars may have been still preserved in some areas of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir , Afghanistan or Yarkant and the same needs to be imported to Kashmiri to revive the traditional species in the state. Dr. Rahi the National Secretary of Tribal Research and cultural foundation has appealed to the state government and demanded that in order to save the existing rarest of rare species of livestock of nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals a special team be constituted and steps be taken on war footing.

Forest Deptt violates labour laws, children being exploited

They are paid just Rs 50/ cubic meter instead of 366 for protection wall and 766 for protection wall with crate.

JAMMU/DODA, JAN 30: The time when children need to carry school bags are being exploited by the Forest Department, which under Chenab Basin Project are engaged as labourers in construction of protection walls at sinking portions in order to protect the land from erosions. Under this project the government department itself is violating the laws by employing the children as labourers. Not only this, the department is not paying them the actual cost of labour but also denying their right to education. The project has become the money minting project for the concerned officials. They are paying just Rs 50/ cubic meter instead of 366 for protection wall only and 766 for protection wall with crate as per 2003-04 rates. Sources said that rate has been revised as well. When the State Observer tried to contact DFO In-Charge project, he did not responded. When Chairman of the project of village Ganika, Mohammed Shafi Saidf was contacted he said that the DFO has never enquired for their presence nor did paid a single penny as salary for watchman for the last two years. Moreover, inspection team members never visited the upper reaches to see the works which have never been done but the bills have been withdrawn, sources said. Most of the protection walls have been constructed at the places in Mazmi area of Doda, where they were not required. (With inputs from Shezad Firoz)

PATRIOTIC FERVOUR AND THE SPIRIT OF NATIONALISM IN KASHMIR

Patriotic fervour and the spirit of nationalism prevailed at Bakshi Stadium Srinagar as parade, skills displays and cultural programmes marked India’s 61^st Republic Day on Tuesday.

PATRIOTIC FERVOUR AND THE SPIRIT OF NATIONALISM IN JAMMU

Patriotic fervour and the spirit of nationalism prevailed at Maulana Azad Memorial Stadium Jammu as parade, skills displays and cultural programmes marked India’s 61^st Republic Day on Tuesday.

Full dress rehearsal of 61st R-Day at Jammu

JAMMU: Full-dress rehearsal of 61^st Republic Day-2010 was held at M A Stadium here today. Senior civil, police and army officers were present on the occasion. The contingents which took part in the march past included Army, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, J&K Police, Armed, J&K Forest Protection Force and National Cadet Corps. Various educational institutions of Jammu district also participated in the march past which included Government GHSS Rehari, M C Khalsa HSS Chand Nagar, Lord Shiva Day Boarding School, Ghou-Manhasan, Government GHSS Mubarak Mandi, Guru Harkrishan Public School Nanak Nagar, Government GHSS Nowabad (Talab-Tillo), J&K Police Public School Miran Sahib, SNS Vidya Mandir (DBN) Talab Tillo, Scouts & Guides Contingents, Government SRML Higher Secondary School, Government HSS Sarwal, Government HSS Jammu Cantt Satwari, Government HS Rajpura Mangotrain, Government Central Basic HSS Jammu and Composite Contingent of Students of different districts of Jammu division. The schools which participated in the band troop girls, included May Fair, Higher Secondary School Chand Nagar, Jammu and Dewan Devi HSS Rajpura Mangotrian whereas in Band troop boys, various schools which include Government SRML HSS Jammu, Guru Harkrishan Public School Nanak Nagar, Jammu and J&K Police Public School Miran Sahib R S Pura took part in full dress rehearsal. Besides 1800 students drawn from various schools presented Rhythmic Gymnastics and about 2000 school children participated in Bhartiyam. A very impressive cultural programme was also presented by the school children. Thali dance presented by the artist from Ramban was also an added attraction which was applauded by one and all present on the occasion. On the occasion, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal also took stock of arrangements at the sports stadium and issued necessary instructions to ensure smooth conduct of Republic Day function. The function was, among others, attended by Director General of Police, Mr Kuldeep Khuda, IGP Jammu, Mr Ashok Gupta, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Mr M K Dwivedi, DIG Jammu, Mr Farooq Ahmed Khan, SSP Jammu, Mr Basant Rath, Joint Director Information, Mr Shyam Bijyal and Deputy Director Information, Mr A K Khajuria.

JKTF welcomes transfer policy, demands its implementation

Welcoming government move about teachers’ transfer policy, Jammu & Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) has said that Government should bring Bill in the next assembly session to restrict teachers from approaching court to get stay on transfer policy.

JKTF Chairman for Rajouri Poonch region, Mughal Shahbaz Khan has welcomed the transfer policy framed by department of education. He said that such type of policies were also drafted in past but were not implemented on grounds and added that if the policy will be implemented, it will surely bring change in the department.

Suggesting government to bring Bill in the next assembly session and make a law restricting teachers to approach court in order to stop transfers, he said that there are thousands of teachers in Jammu & Kashmir and especially in Rajouri Poonch who have brought stay on transfer orders mentioning one or other reason. He added that these teachers must be restricted to move court in regard of trsneferd matters and government should immediately make law in this regard to implement the policy in true spirit.

Giving examples of non implementation of government orders and policies on ground, Khan said that the there are 17 orders for replacement of staff under SSA scheme after performing two years of service. He said that order No Edu/SPD/SSA-28131-33 dated 17-04-2008 was violated after violation of order No 12387-92 and Order No 357107 dated 26-12-2007. He added that they can show a dozen of orders which have been gathering dust under the cupboards of Chief Education Officer and Zonal Education Officers.

Another leader Vinod Sharma, District President JKTF said that the implementation of this policy is only possible when the concerned minister take some strong decision on it.