Tribal organisation urges J&K government to foresee migrations during livestock census

A tribal organisation in Jammu and Kashmir has appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir administration to postpone the livestock census in view of the bi-annual migration of Gujjars and Bakarwals -- the main animal rearing communities in the state.

The 20th livestock census was started by the Centre across the country on October 1 to collect breed-wise details that will help in framing policies for breed improvement.

"We appeal to the government to postpone the enumeration process of livestock census in the state as the tribes are under bi-annual migration to plan areas along with livestock," Tribal Research Cultural Foundation (TRCF) founder and noted researcher Javaid Rahi said.

He said the administration should wait till the tribes return in the mid of next month.

The Gujjars and Bakarwals are presently under migration from mountains of north-western Himalaya to plain areas of the state.

"The tribals will be back to plain areas from November 15 onwards after completing their downward journey which starts in the first week of October every year," Rahi said.

"The seasonal bi-annual migrations along with livestock is an essential part of the nomadic lifestyle of Gujjars and Bakarwals which they have been practising since centuries," he said.

He had appealed to the administration to add a category of 'nomads' in their performance of census against household category as lakhs of Gujjars and Bakarwals are landless in the state.

The TRCF founder also asked Gujjars and Bakarwals to help the government agencies in conducting the livestock census as a collection of breed-wise information of various species would give vital information for determination of threatened indigenous breeds and to take initiatives for their conservation.

(With inputs from agencies.)