Javed writes to Govt for urgent measures to protect rights of forest dwellers

STATE TIMES NEWS

RAJOURI: Chairman Block Development Council Koteranka (Budhal-Old, Rajouri, Choudhary Javed Iqbal has appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir government to take immediate measures for addressing concerns of the traditionally forest dwelling population.
In separate letters to Principal Secretary Revenue Shaleen Kabra, Commissioner Secretary Forests Sarita Chauhan and Director Tribal Affairs Rehana Batul, Javed Chowdhary raised the concerns of tribal communities traditionally dwelling on forests, and requested for immediate extension of Forests Rights Act.
He said that a vast majority of the area he represents is populated by the Gujjar tribal communities who have lived in and around the forests for centuries.
Javed Choudhary and his wife Shazia Kausar have recently contested DDC election from two Territorial Constituencies spread over 42 Panchayats in Rajouri district.
“During our extensive campaign of the area we came across one central issue that revolves around dwelling in and around forest areas”, he said in a memorandum to the concerned officers.