SOCIO ECONOMIC UPLIFTMENT AMONG THE BAKARWAL TRIBE OF KASHMIR VALLEY: A STUDY

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1 ISSN (Print): 232- SOCIO ECONOMIC UPLIFTMENT AMONG THE BAKARWAL TRIBE OF KASHMIR VALLEY: A STUDY *MUDASIR AHMAD RATHER Ph.D Research Scholar Dept. of Political Science & Public Administration Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu ** Dr. S. BALAMURUGAN Assistant Professor Dept. of Political Science & Public Administration Annamalai University,Tamil Nadu ABSTRACT Bakarwals are mostly dominant on hilly and mountainous regions of Valley. They are economically poor, socially backward, but culturally sound. Bakarwal are the third largest ethnic group in Jammu and Kashmir constitutes more than 11.9% of the total population of the state (Census, 211).This scheduled tribe is the only community in the state which maintains its culture and heritage throughout the ages. Various studies and reports indicate that socio-economic status of Bakarwal in Jammu and Kashmir is not at all satisfactory. The economic poverty among schedule tribes of Kashmir is more than the general population of region. Their housing, sanitation, electricity, health care facilities are very low sub-standard than other sections of population. The literacy rate among schedule tribes of Kashmir is also very low. In this paper an attempt was made to examine the socio-economic life of tribes in general and Bakarwal in particular. This paper is based on primary and secondary sources. An interview schedule was framed to elicit information from the respondents. Key Words: - Bakarwals, Kashmir, Tribes, Socio Economic, constitution, exotic, ethnic. Introduction The term tribe is nowhere clearly defined in the Constitution and in fact there is no perfect or full proof definition anywhere. To the ordinary man the word suggests simple folk living in hills and forests with their exotic customs and practices; to people who are little better informed, it signifies colorful folks for their dance, songs and folk medicine; to an administrator it means a group of citizens who are the special responsibility of the president of India; to an anthropologist it indicates a special field for the study of social phenomenon. The Bakarwals are the third biggest ethnic group in Jammu and Kashmir constitutes more than 11.9% of the total population of the state (Census, 211); scheduled tribe are the only communities, which maintain this culture and heritage throughout ages. In the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, the concentration of Bakarwals is observed in the districts of Rajouri and Poonch, followed by, Ananatnag, Udhampur and Doda districts. There are 12 classifications of tribes in the state as Balti, Beda, Bot, Shin, Changpa, Garra, Mon, Purigpa, Gujjar, Bakerwals, Gaddi and Sippi. Gujjars and Bakarwals constitute the greater part of them with 9% of tribal population. Scheduled tribes are socially all that much depict able by moving, religious customs and traditions and so forth. The tribal s herd animals like sheeps, goats and buffalo. Bakarwals have their own costumes, traditions, food habits, lifestyle, and arts and crafts, which vary from area to area. Their dwelling places are known as dera or kacha houses, made up of wooden roof. But some of the families have pacca houses, which are being settled in the winter pastures. Traditionally the socio-economic aspects of this community were quite different from the rest of the Kashmiri society. With the modernization the socio-economic components have brought about a significant change in the society especially in this community. Methodology The nature of this study is exploratory and descriptive because both primary and secondary data have been used. The Primary data has been collected from 1 respondents from Kashmir valley. Both men and women were chosen through simple random sampling method. An interview schedule has been utilized for drawing precise inferences. The inferences were tabulated systematically, in order to do simple percentage analysis. Secondary data is collected from journals, books, newspapers, published and unpublished work and websites. Vol: I. Issue LV, September 21 13

2 ISSN (Print): 232- Scheduled Tribe Population of Jammu and Kashmir The Scheduled Tribes account for 11.9 per cent of the total population of the State as per Census 211. The total population of the state, as per Census 211, is 1, 2, 132 including male population of, 2 and female population of 9,. The Census 211 shows the entire ST population of the state at 1, 93, 299 in comparison to 11, 99 of Census 21. Thus, there is an increase of 38,32 in schedule tribe population of the state. As the Census 211 figures on the individual population of 12 ST communities of J&K are not yet available, however as per Census 21, Gujjar is the most populous tribe having a population of 3,8, thus forming 9.1 percent of the total ST population. Bot is the second major tribe having a population of 9, 98, followed by Bakarwals (,) and Brogpa (1,9). Gujjar along with the three tribes constitute 88 per cent of the total tribal population (Census 21) whereas Balti, Purigpa and Gaddi having population ranging from 38,188 down to 3, from 1.2 per cent of the total ST population. Remaining five tribes, Sippi, Changpa, Mon, Garra and Beda along with generic tribes constitute the residual proportion (1.9 per cent). Among all the tribes, Beda is the smallest group with a population of 128. Culture As far as the culture of Bakarwals is concerned most of them follow the folk culture. Bakarwals are culturally very much depictable by dancing, religious rites and customs etc. In the state of Jammu and Kashmir majority of the tribal are the follower of Islam. They are the tribes who strictly follow old traditions and customs. They follow the custom of child marriages, where girls are married at an age of 1-1 years and boys at 1-18 years. Language The Bakarwal tribal community has the language of Pahari. The communities have also developed fluency in other languages such as Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi, Pastho, Kashmiri languages like Kangri and Dogri. Occupation: The tribals herd animals like sheep goats and buffalo. Semi-nomadic people of Bakarwal community are in the habit of migrating to upper parts of Himalayas along with their cattle during the summer season and back to the plains with the onset of chilly winters. There is dearth of trained Bakarwal artisans in various handicrafts. Therefore, they are constantly dependent on the items from them. Bakarwals perhaps is the only community which has preserved and maintained its identity throughout ages Food Mostly they depend on milk products as their staple food besides cereals, wheat and maize. They may be vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The favourite dishes of Bakarwals are "Maki ki Roti" Ganhar, Sarssoon ka Sag, Lassi, Kalari, Karan, etc. It is surprising that Bakarwals are mostly vegetarians. Dress: Bakarwals wear a unique dress and have not changed their style despite the changes that have taken place in society due to modernization and development. Bakarwals wear mostly their traditional costumes and jewellary. Women folk wear shirt studded with varieties of buttons and embroidery on it with a black shalwar, duppatta with multiple colours and round cap with a trail of course over threaded. The women folk young and old are found of wearing heavy jewelry, kangan, karras, seheeri, mahail loung, bali are commonly used. Women wear necklace with a triangular pendant, studded with a beautiful stone in the centre. It has religious significance, symbolizes evil eye and mainly utilizes to prevent bad luck. Analysis and Interpretation This part analyzed is on the basis of empirical method adopted to draw perceptions and opinions from the Bakarwal respondents in Kashmir valley. Simple random sampling method was adopted in order to choose respondents. There are five variables adopted i.e. Age, Gender, Education, occupation and income. On the basis of variables, an interview Schedule was administered which involve questions related with the socio economic conditions of Bakarwals. Table 1.1: Age wise Classification Sl.No Age Frequency Percentage Total Above Total Vol: I. Issue LV, September 21 1

3 Percentage Percentage Asia Pacific Journal of Research ISSN (Print): 232- Age wise classification Above Above 1 The above table shows age wise distribution of 1 respondents. 38 percentage of respondents are in the age group of 31- years, percentage of respondents are come 1- years age category, percentage of the respondents are come under 2-3 years age category, and 1 percentage of the respondents belong to the age group of Above years. It is found that majority of the respondents belong to the age group of 31- years. Table 1.2: Gender wise Classification Sl.No Gender Frequency Percentage Total 1 Male. 2 Female Total Gender wise classification 3 Male Female Male Female The table above shows the gender wise distribution of the total 1 respondents. percentages of the respondents belong to the gender group of Male, 3 percentages of respondents belong to the gender group of Female. It is found that the majority of respondents belong to the gender group of Male. Vol: I. Issue LV, September 21 1

4 ISSN (Print): 232- Table1.3 Classification based on Education Educational Qualification Frequency Percent Total Illiterate Primary High School Higher Secondary Graduation Post Graduation. Total The above table shows the respondents are classified into four categories according to the qualification as illiterate, Primary, High School, Higher Secondary, Graduation and Post Graduation. 2 percentage of the respondents are at illiterate level, 2 percentage of the respondents have complete their Primary school level, 19 percentage of the respondents have complete their High school level, 1 percentage of the respondents have complete their HSC Level, 11 percentage of the respondents completed Degree level and percentage of the respondents completed post graduation. It is found that majority of the respondents belongs to the illiterate level. Table 1. Occupation Wise Classifications Occupation Frequency Percentage Total Agriculture. Wage Labour Govt. Employee Private Employee Others Form the above table it is revealed that percentage of the respondents are come Agriculture Occupations, 3 percentage of the respondents are come Wage Labour category, 12 percentage of the respondents are Government Employee and 8 percentage of the respondents are private employee. It is found that majority of the respondents are agricultural occupation. Table 1. Income Wise Classifications Income Frequency Percentage Total Below , ,-1, Above 1,. Total The above table clearly shows that 2 percentage of the respondents monthly income range from below, 2 percentage of the respondents monthly income is between Rs. -8, 18 percentage of the respondents monthly income is 8-12,, 1 percentage of the respondents monthly income is 12,-1, and only percentage of the respondents earns a monthly income range above Rs 1,.It is found that majority of the respondents monthly income is below. Table 1. Land Holding Size Land Holding Size Frequency Percentage Total Below 1 Acre to 3 Acre to Acre Above Acre Total Vol: I. Issue LV, September 21 1

5 ISSN (Print): 232- It is evident from the above table that 8 percent of the respondents are have Below 1 Acre land in their own, 3 percent of the respondents are have 2 to 3 Acre land in their own, 1 percent of the respondents are have 3 to Acre and only 8 percent of the respondents are have Above Acre. It is found that majority of the respondents have Below 1 Acre land in their own. Table 1. Percentages of Respondents for Main Source of Water Supply Age Group Piped Water Spring River Private Well Others Total Supply 2-3 (31.81) (.2) (.2) (.2) (.) (2.1) (23.9) (1.8) (18.2) (.) 1- (29.1) (2.83) (2.83) (29.1) (.) Above (31.2) (2.) (18.) (2.) (.) Total 3 (3) 23 (23.) 19 (19.) 23 (23.) (.) 1 (1.) The table above shows the main source of safe drinking water which shows that 1 respondents in Kashmir valley i:e 3 percent have piped water supply, while as 23 percent, 23 percent and 19 percent have uses Spring, River and Private wells as the main Source of Water supply. At the age group of (2-3), only respondents (31.81) percent have piped water supply, while remaining respondents uses spring, River, and private wells as main source of drinking water. At the age group of (31-), only 1 respondents (2.1) percent have piped water supply, while as remaining uses spring, river and private wells as main source of drinking water. At the age group of (1-), only respondents (29.1) have the piped water, 2.83 percent as spring, 2.83 as river and 29.1 percent as a private wells as a main source of water. At the age group of above 1 only respondents (31.2) percent have the piped water, while as remaining uses spring, river and private wells as a main source of water. Table 1.8 Percentages of Respondents for Source of Lightning Age Group Electricity Kerosene Solar energy No lighting Others Total 2-3 (2.28) (.2) (.2) (2.28) (.) (2.31) (39.8) (1.9) (18.2) (.) 1-8 (2.83) (2.) (2.83) (33.33) (.) Above (2.) (31.2 (2.) (18.) (.) Total 2 (2) 31 (31.) 2 (2.) (.) (.) 1 (1.) The table above shows the source of Lightning which shows that1 respondents in Kashmir valley i:e 2 percent have uses Electricity source of Lightning, while as 31 percent and 2 percent have uses Kerosene, Solar energy, where as percent have no source of lightning. At the age group of (2-3), only respondents (2.28) percent have uses Electricity source of Lightning, while remaining respondents uses Kerosene, Solar energy, and 2.28 percent have no source of lightning. At the age group of (31-), only 1 respondents (2.31) percent have uses Electricity source of Lightning, while remaining respondents uses Kerosene, Solar energy and 18.2 percent have no source of lightning. At the age group of the age group of (1-), only respondents (2.83) percent have uses Electricity source of Lightning, while remaining respondents uses Kerosene, Solar energy, and percent have no source of lightning. At the age group of above 1 only respondents (2.) percent have uses Electricity source of Lightning, while remaining respondents uses Kerosene, Solar energy and 18. percent have no source of lightning. Vol: I. Issue LV, September 21 1

6 ISSN (Print): 232- Table 1.9 Percentages of Respondents for Toilet Facility Age Group Flush Toilet No Toilet Open Toilet Total (.2) (. (2.28) (2.31) (.3) (2.31) 1-11 (29.1) (.83) (2.) Above 1 1 (31.2 (3.) (2.) Total (2.) (.) (2.) The table above shows that percent of respondents in Kashmir valley have no latrine facilities, while as 2 percent of the respondents uses Flush latrines and 2 percent of respondents have uses open latrines. It means that majority of the respondents have no latrine facilities. At the age group of (2-3), only respondents (.2) percent have uses Flush latrines, 2.28 percent of respondents have uses open latrines where as. percent of the respondents have no latrine facilities. It means that majority of the respondents have no latrine facilities. At the age group of (31-), only 1 respondents (2.31) percent have uses Flush latrines, 2.31 percent of respondents have uses open latrines where as.3 percent of the respondents have no latrine facilities. It means that majority of the respondents have no latrine facilities. At the age group of (1-), only respondents (29.1) percent have uses Flush latrines, 2. percent of respondents have uses open latrines where as.83 percent of the respondents have no latrine facilities. It means that majority of the respondents have no latrine facilities. At the age group of (Above ), only respondents (31.2) percent have uses Flush latrines, 2. percent of respondents have uses open latrines where as 3. percent of the respondents have no latrine facilities. It means that majority of the respondents have no latrine facilities. Conclusion It is concluded by saying that socio economic status of Bakarwal in the Kashmir valley is not satisfactory. No doubt a few families have good achievement in socio economic conditions but majority of Bakarwals still suffer due to their illiteracy and poverty. Bakarwals in Kashmir valley lived in the descended and diversified areas with low availability socio-economic parameters. They have low levels of socio economic infrastructure, high poverty rates and low level of education. There is more deprivation in education, health and standard of living. It has found that the maximum have less number of dwelling rooms, low quality of housing, less water facilities and low source of lightning. All these schedule tribe groups are socially and economically deprived and do not have basic amenities of life. The poverty rates of schedule tribes in Kashmir valley are more as compared to the rate of general population of the state. Majority of the Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir depend on their agricultural productivities and cattle for their livelihood in lower, middle and the higher mountain regions. Though the Central and the State Governments have taken much interest in the tribal welfare programmes, projects and schemes, much are yet to be done. The progress achieved in this field is far from satisfactory. These decades of development have not had the desired impact on the socially, economically deprived section. The welfare progammes have not been effective due to inadequacies in the administrative machinery, lack of sensitive, trained management, lack of general preparedness for large investments, deficiency in accounting systems, procedural delays and lack of proper monitoring and evaluation. Need is to take immediate steps by government and other development agencies for their upliftment. Refrences 1. Bhat, Showket Anwar. Socio-economic conditions of schedule tribes of Kashmir. World Rural Observation, Volume. (213): pp Gul, Showkeen Bilal Ahmad. Assessment and Understanding of Gujjar and Bakerwal Women s Health in Jammu And Kashmir. Journal of Buisness Management and Social Science Research, Volume 3.3 (21): pp Chowdhary, Mussarat. Analysing Socio - Economic Conditions of Tribal Gujjar Women; A Case Study of Jammu and Kashmir. Golden Research Thought, Volume.1 (21): pp 1-.. Mohd, Zia-Ul-Haq and Rafaqi, Mohd Zia ul haq. A study of socioeconomic status among the Gujjar and Bakerwal tribal clans of J&K. Asian Journal Of Multidisciplinary Research, Volume 2. (21): pp Sofi, Umer Jan. Educational Status of Tribals of Jammu & Kashmir: A Case of Gujjars and Bakarwals. International Journal of Social Science, Volume 3.3 (21): pp -.. Din, Azhar Ud. Socio-Economic Conditions of Gujjar and Bakerwal Tribes of Kashmir. International Journal of Recent Research in Social Science and Humanities, Volume 2.2 (21): pp Vol: I. Issue LV, September 21 18

7 ISSN (Print): Tufail. Mohd. Demography, Social and Cultural Characteristics of the Gujjars and Bakarwals, A Case Study of Jammu and Kashmir. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Volume 19.1 (21): pp Gupta, Swati and Beg, Farhat Bano Socio-Economic Upliftment of Gujjar Tribe in Jammu & Kashmir. International Journal of Research in Commerce, Economics and Management, Volume 2.9 (212): pp Jan, Sofi Umer. Educational Status of Tribals of Jammu & Kashmir: A Case of Gujjars and Bakarwals. International Journal of social sciences, Volume 3.3 (21):pp Kumar, Subash and Sharma, Naveen. The Socio-Economic Status of Tribal Women in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Eurpean Academic Research, Volume 2.1 (21):pp Abass, Zaheer, Jameel Ahmad and Ahmad Yawar. Socio-Economic and Educational Status of Tribal (Gujjar and Bakarwal) of Jammu and Kashmir: An Overview. International Journal of Humanities and social Studies, Volume 3.1 (21): pp Shahbaz. Participation of Gujjar and Bakerwal in State Politics: Problems and Prospects. Journal of Buisness Management and Social Science Research, Volume.9 (21): pp S, Gupta and F.B. Beg. Socio Economic Upliftment of Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir international Journal of Research in Commerce, Economics and Management, Vol-2, (212): pp Sameena and Jameel Ahmed. Gender Disparity in Education: A Study of Poonch District in J & K EPRA International Journal of Economic and Business Review, Vol. 3(3): pp Rafiq, Ruhi. Socio-Economic profile of Dodhi gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir, IRC S International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research in Social & Management Science, Volume 2. 3, (21): pp Zutshi, B. Gujjars and Bakarwal of J&K. A case study of Rajouri district, In khajuria R.R., Gujjars of jammu and Kashmir (eds.) Gulshan Publications, (1981). 1. Rahi, Javid. Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation a National Organization working on Gujjars and Bakarwals in the Jammu and Kashmir (29). 18. Sharma Anita. The Bakkarwals of Jammu & Kashmir: Navigating Through Nomadism Niyogi Publishers, New Delhi, (29). 19. Jasbir Singh. The Economy of Jammu and Kashmir Radha Krishan Anand and Co.,Delhi, (). 2. http/ Vol: I. Issue LV, September 21 19