Rajasthan announces Rs.2.82 bn package for Gujjars

[getgujjar]

Hi all

This morning come across this new on following links, just want to share this news

www.headlinesindia.com/more/index.jsp?news_code=76071

www.indiaenews.com/politics/20080518/118800.htm

Politics Sunday, May 18, 2008

Rajasthan announces Rs.2.82 bn package for Gujjars[/b]

From correspondents in Rajasthan, India, 01:01 AM IST

The Rajasthan government has announced a package of Rs.2.82 billion for the upliftment of the Gujjar community, which has been demanding tribal status for better educational and job opportunities.

The decision was taken on the basis of a recommendation of a high-powered committee headed by Ramdas Agarwal that was set up by the state government in December to suggest an economic package for Gujjar-dominated areas in the state.

'To begin with, the committee has recommended a special package for 13 of the Gujjar-dominated tehsils, where they are most backward in the state,' Agarwal told IANS here Saturday.

These areas were identified as the most backward of the places by the Justice Jasraj Chopra committee that looked into the Gujjar demand to classify them as tribals.

'Over 1 million Gujjars live in these areas and we have recommended infrastructural development of the area - including roads, water, and electricity. It also includes upgradation of education and medical facilities in these areas,' Agarwal said.

The committee would take up other areas soon, he added.

Gujjars, presently classified among the other backward classes (OBC), held protests all over Rajasthan from May 29 to June 4 last year demanding their inclusion into the Scheduled Tribe category that would give them better employment and educational opportunities.

Normal life was paralysed and at least 26 people were killed in the violence that was heading towards a caste war between Gujjars and Meenas, who are classified as a Scheduled Tribe.

The state government in June last year set up the Justice Chopra committee to look into the Gujjar demand. The committee, which submitted its report in December, rejected the demand but suggested a special package for those members of the community living in under-developed and remote areas of the state.

[Manvinder Adhana]

Hi guys

I reckon it's a good news.Something is better than nothing....

cheers....

[getgujjar]

In independent india gujjar are always not given what they want as see the comments by roop Singh below:
“Nothing very exciting but it surely is a step forward. This is an acknowledgement that we are a deprived community. Gujjars still demand ST status and would continue working for it,” Roop Singh, a close associate of Col. Bainsla said talking to The Hindu from Alwar

Online The Hindu has following news:-

Date:18/05/2008 URL: www.thehindu.com/2008/05/18/stories/2008051854970700.htm Back
National

Special package for Gujjars

Special Correspondent

‘To benefit a population of 9-10 lakh’

Ramdas panel comes up with a geographic-specific 282 crore package

JAIPUR: The Ramdas Agarwal Committee, appointed by the Rajasthan Government two months back to look into the backwardness of the Gujjar community, announced a geographic-specific Rs. 282 crore special package for its members on Saturday. The announcement followed a meeting of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Mr. Agarwal at her official residence in the presence of Gujjar Ministers, MLAs and Gujjar leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

However the leaders, who led the violent agitation demanding Scheduled Tribe status to Gujjars in May-June the previous year, including Kirori Singh Bainsla, were absent.

“The package will directly benefit a population of 9-10 lakh Gujjars living in the districts of Alwar, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Dholpur and Jhalawar,” Mr.Agarwal said. “It is for the first time that such a large and specific package is being offered to the community which does not have even a single serving IAS officer from it,” he observed.

Of the Rs.282 crores, an amount of Rs.182 crores was already earmarked in the current year’s budget. “We have done maximum possible within the budgetary limits. With this is the first phase of the committee’s work is over,” Mr.Agarwal said. The other members of the committee are Ministers, Ghanshyam Tiwari, Digamber Singh and Madan Dilwar. Mr. Agarwal expressed the hope that the package would satisfy the community and improve the situation greatly at ground level.

“Nothing very exciting but it surely is a step forward. This is an acknowledgement that we are a deprived community. Gujjars still demand ST status and would continue working for it,” Roop Singh, a close associate of Col. Bainsla said talking to The Hindu from Alwar. “The Chopra Committee earlier and now the Agarwal Committee have recognized our extreme backwardness,” he said. The Gujjars had other demands also pending with the Government. “hirty eight persons from our community are still in jail,” Dr. Roop Singh said.

There is an estimated population of 25 lakh of Gujjars in Rajasthan. The Justice Chopra Committee, which looked into their demand for ST status, had submitted its report in December 2007. On the basis of the recommendations of the Chopra committee -- which had termed the demand for ST status unacceptable due to the laid out criteria for the same -- Mr.Agarwal was appointed in January with the mandate to prepare a special package for the community.

“We had 4-5 sittings and the last one in the presence of the Chief Minister. The package involves the Ministries of PHED, PWD, Cooperatives and Education,” Mr.Agarwal noted.

The other demands from Gujjars, such as jobs to one member of each family, which had a casualty in the agitation, assistance to those injured and withdrawal of the cases would be complied with by May 27, he informed.

[karamjeetchoudhary]

i think its admission by the govt. that gurjars are backward and depriver community and they deserve reservation as ST

[getgujjar]

Ya karamjit, but get realization by government will not solve the problem. Everybody knows that backward and deprived community especially in rajasthan and they should be given their due reservation

But due to political stunts, its gujjars in rajasthan who had always been suffered. Now the gujjar political leaders should unite together and should ask for reservation. Also You see nobody from gujjar political leadership is handling this issue in matured way.

People have already done their role in the reservation movement. It is government who should have given the due reservation

see again fresh rail-roko stir from May 23
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Gujjars_threaten_fresh_stir/rssarticleshow/3054833.cms
Who cares last time how many died....


How much from Rs. 2.82 bn will go in hands of needy people. Bureaucrats and political leaders will enjoy this package. actually if we got reservation, nobody will be able to do any corruption because benefit will directly going to people and their families.

See what happen next?

[digmber singh gurjar]

May 20, 2008 9:09:32 GMT -5 getgujjar said:

In independent india gujjar are always not given what they want as see the comments by roop Singh below:
“Nothing very exciting but it surely is a step forward. This is an acknowledgement that we are a deprived community. Gujjars still demand ST status and would continue working for it,” Roop Singh, a close associate of Col. Bainsla said talking to The Hindu from Alwar

Online The Hindu has following news:-

Date:18/05/2008 URL: www.thehindu.com/2008/05/18/stories/2008051854970700.htm Back
National

Special package for Gujjars

Special Correspondent

‘To benefit a population of 9-10 lakh’

Ramdas panel comes up with a geographic-specific 282 crore package

JAIPUR: The Ramdas Agarwal Committee, appointed by the Rajasthan Government two months back to look into the backwardness of the Gujjar community, announced a geographic-specific Rs. 282 crore special package for its members on Saturday. The announcement followed a meeting of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Mr. Agarwal at her official residence in the presence of Gujjar Ministers, MLAs and Gujjar leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

However the leaders, who led the violent agitation demanding Scheduled Tribe status to Gujjars in May-June the previous year, including Kirori Singh Bainsla, were absent.

“The package will directly benefit a population of 9-10 lakh Gujjars living in the districts of Alwar, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Dholpur and Jhalawar,” Mr.Agarwal said. “It is for the first time that such a large and specific package is being offered to the community which does not have even a single serving IAS officer from it,” he observed.

Of the Rs.282 crores, an amount of Rs.182 crores was already earmarked in the current year’s budget. “We have done maximum possible within the budgetary limits. With this is the first phase of the committee’s work is over,” Mr.Agarwal said. The other members of the committee are Ministers, Ghanshyam Tiwari, Digamber Singh and Madan Dilwar. Mr. Agarwal expressed the hope that the package would satisfy the community and improve the situation greatly at ground level.

“Nothing very exciting but it surely is a step forward. This is an acknowledgement that we are a deprived community. Gujjars still demand ST status and would continue working for it,” Roop Singh, a close associate of Col. Bainsla said talking to The Hindu from Alwar. “The Chopra Committee earlier and now the Agarwal Committee have recognized our extreme backwardness,” he said. The Gujjars had other demands also pending with the Government. “hirty eight persons from our community are still in jail,” Dr. Roop Singh said.

There is an estimated population of 25 lakh of Gujjars in Rajasthan. The Justice Chopra Committee, which looked into their demand for ST status, had submitted its report in December 2007. On the basis of the recommendations of the Chopra committee -- which had termed the demand for ST status unacceptable due to the laid out criteria for the same -- Mr.Agarwal was appointed in January with the mandate to prepare a special package for the community.

“We had 4-5 sittings and the last one in the presence of the Chief Minister. The package involves the Ministries of PHED, PWD, Cooperatives and Education,” Mr.Agarwal noted.

The other demands from Gujjars, such as jobs to one member of each family, which had a casualty in the agitation, assistance to those injured and withdrawal of the cases would be complied with by May 27, he informed.