Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies (AJMS)
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CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies (AJMS) ISSN: 2321-8819 (Online) Asian Journal of 2348-7186 (Print) Impact Factor: 1.498 Multidisciplinary Studies Vol.4, Issue 11, October 2016 A study of educational status of tribal Bakkarwal children of Kalakote Block in Rajouri District of Jammu and Kashmir Kavita Suri* & Permilla Raina** Associate Professor* & Researcher** Department of Lifelong Learning (Formerly Centre for Adult, Continuing Education & Extension) University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir ABSTRACT: Gujjar and Bakkarwals are the twin nomadic community of Jammu and Kashmir who have been granted Scheduled Tribe (ST) status due to their backwardness. The Bakkarwals are primarily nomads who move from plains to the higher altitudes with their flock as part of their annual season journeys with their livestock. The literacy rate among the Bakkarwal community is quite low in comparison to other 12 ST communities in the state. The present paper focuses on the status of education among the nomadic Bakkarwal children in Kakalote block of border district of Rajouri. The study aims to explore the reasons behind educational backwardness among Bakkarwal tribes, if any. Besides it also seeks to find out the measures taken by the Jammu and Kashmir government to provide education to nomads/Bakkarwal tribes. Keywords: Bakkarwals, education, mobile schools, backwardness INTRODUCTION follow Hinduism and small minorities follow Sikhism (1.9 percent), Buddhism (0.9%) and Jammu and Kashmir is the northern-most state of Christianity (0.3 %). Jammu and Kashmir is India .It is located mostly in the Himalayas and inhabited by a number of tribal communities who shares its border with the states of Himachal have settled down in all parts of this Himalayan Pradesh, Punjab. Internationally, it shares the state. All the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and borders with China and Pakistan. It is further Ladakh are inhabited by various tribes which make divided into 22 districts, 10 in Jammu region and up the authentic and characteristic ethnic culture of 10 in Kashmir region and remaining two in Ladakh this state and its tribal culture. The Scheduled region. The state of Jammu and Kashmir consists Tribes (STs) constitute 11.9 % of the total of three regions: Jammu, Kashmir valley and population of the state. The state of Jammu and Ladakh. Srinagar is the summer capital while Kashmir has twelve tribes including Gujjars, Jammu is the summer capital. Kashmir valley is Bakkarwals, Balti, Beda, Bot (Boto) ,Brokpa ( famous for its beautiful mountainous landscape and Drokpa), Changpa, Garra, Mon,Purigpa, Gaddi and Jammu’s numerous shrines attract lakhs of Hindu Sippis. Gujjars are the most populous tribe in the pilgrims every year. Ladakh also known as “Little state having a population of 7, 63,806 thus 69% of Tibet” is renowned for its remote mountain beauty the total scheduled tribes population of J&K. Bot is and Buddhist culture. the second major tribe having a population of As per Census 2011, Jammu and Kashmir has 96,698; followed by Bakkarwals which are 60,724 population of 1.25 crores which is an increase from in number. figure of 1.01 crores in 2001 census. The total For years, Jammu and Kashmir had no Scheduled population of Jammu and Kashmir, as per Census Tribes (STs). It was only in 1989 that eight 2011, is 12,541,302 including male population 66, communities vide the Constitution (Jammu & 40, 662 and female population 59, 00,640 Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1989 and four respectively. In 2001, total population was communities, namely Gujjar, Bakarwal, Gaddi and 10,143,700 in which males were 5,360,926 while Sippi were notified as the Scheduled Tribes vide females were 4,782,774. The total population the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order growth in this decade was 23.64 percent while in (Amendment) Act, 1991. These twelve hill tribes the previous decade it was 29.04 percent. The living in Jammu and Kashmir which were granted population of Jammu and Kashmir forms 1.04 ST status are Balti, Beda, Bot (Boto), Brokpa percent of India in 2011. In 2001, the figure was (Drokpa, Dard, Shin), Changpa, Garra, Mon, 0.99 percent. Purigpa, Gujjar, Bakarwal, Gaddi and Sippis. Of Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India with these, eight communities are located in Ladakh a Muslim- majority population. According to the including Balti, Beda, Bodh or Bot, Brokpa, Census 2011, Islam is practised by about 68.3 Champa (or Changpa), Garra and Mon. All the percent of the state population while 28.4 percent Available online at www.ajms.co.in 72 A study of educational status of tribal Bakkarwal children of Kalakote Block in Rajouri District of Jammu and Kashmir twelve Scheduled Tribes (STs) were enumerated pastoralists rearing goat and sheep for livelihood. officially for the first time during the 2001 census. They leave their homes each summer for the high- altitudes of Himalayas and spend their winter in The STs are predominantly rural as 95.3 per cent of plains and foot hills of Shivaliks. During their them reside in villages. Among the districts, Kargil journeys to the higher reaches of the mountains has, at 88.3 per cent, the highest proportion of during summer when the snows melt and the passes Scheduled Tribes followed by Leh which has 82 open, the Bakkarwals trek through the remotest per cent population; Poonch has 40 per cent while areas of the mountains to reach the higher pastures Rajouri has 33.1 per cent. of the Pir Panjal range where they rest in temporary Out of twelve Scheduled Tribes of J&K, Gujjar is hutments in the picturesque valley and graze their the most populous tribe having a population of herd of sheep. In those high altitude pastures which 763,806, thus forming 69.1 percent of the total ST are excellent grazing grounds for their cattle, they population. Balti, Purigpa and Gaddi together form graze their cattle, fatten their flock and achieve 10.2 per cent of the total ST population. Five tribes higher prices for their sheep. In autumn, having Sippi, Changpa, Mon, Garra and Beda along sold their sheep, they descend to the plains leaving constitute the residual proportion (1.9 per cent). the extreme cold of the mountains behind them in Among all the tribes, Beda is the smallest group October. The tribe is greatly dependent on its with a population of 128. livestock and hence the need for higher pastures and colder climates makes the community embark Gujjars and Bakkarwals of Jammu and on a journey, sometimes stretching for weeks and Kashmir months on foot. The Gujjars and Bakkarwals tribes are the two In Jammu and Kashmir, Gujjars move from place nomadic tribes which form the third largest to place of shifting of habitation in search of community in Jammu and Kashmir and constitute subsistence. Despite tremendous effort of 8.1 percent of the total population in the state, government of India and State Government, have according to the census of India 2001. In Jammu not much change their thinking and living style. and Kashmir in India, Gujjars and Bakkarwals are Only a fraction of Gujjars have come up with found in all the three regions of the state including modernization and have acquired the modern and Jammu (comprising districts of Jammu, Kathua, scientific approach of life and are going on an Udhampur, Poonch, Rajouri etc), the Kashmir equal pace with the race of modern agriculture. Valley (comprising the districts of Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara, Pulwama, Budgam and Bakkarwal word is derived from Gojri/ Urdu/ Anantnag) and Ladakh (comprising Kargil). The Punjabi/Dogri/kashmiri terms, Bakra meaning Goat majority of Gujjars are found in Pakistan, or Sheep and Wal meaning one who takes care of numbering 33 million, while India has the second them. Essentially, the name Bakkarwal implies largest Gujjar population, numbering 30 million. high altitude goat herds / sheep herds. The The majority of Gujjars today are Muslims Bakkarwals belong to the same ethnicity stock as although there is also a significant Hindu and Sikh the Gujjars and inter-marriages do not take place population of Gujjars who go with the little of among them. The dera is the basic unit of social Choudhary, Kasana, Bhadano, Patel. According to structure among the Bakkarwals they cont their census 2011 there are 7, 63,806 Gujjars in Jammu numbers and describe their grazing and Kafila and Kashmir which is 69% of the total scheduled groups in terms of the number of deras. A Dera tribes population. usually come into existence when a person established an independent household, which The word Gujjar in the literature of India is th happens normally after his marriage. Each son, maintained to have occurred in the 7 century A.D. thus, establishes his own dera as he gets married. A The world “Gujjar” is believed to be the derivation dera usually consists of 5-6 members. There is a of ‘Gurujar’ which is Sanskrit word meaning a division of labour among the members of the valiant out to crush the enemies further believe that household on the basis of sex and age. these word derived from Gauchar : Gau means cow and Char means Graze . Females perform the basic tasks of cooking, washing, fetching of water, Upbringing of children, Gujjars were primarily a nomadic community who Collection of wood, etc. On the other hand, male have now settled down to a large extent and have perform more difficult task like herding of flock become sedentarized or settled in permanent and cattle, repairing of tools and equipment, villages in the plains bordering the foot hills and collection of grasses, herbs, etc.