Jammu: In a move to intensify tribal welfare initiatives, Javed Ahmed Rana, Minister for Tribal Affairs, held discussions with the trustees of the Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust (GDCT) regarding ongoing efforts aimed at the welfare and upliftment of the Gujjar-Bakerwal tribe.
The meeting featured in-depth deliberations on the preservation and promotion of Gojri culture, art, and language. Discussions were also held on the Trust’s expanding initiatives in education, tribal welfare, and community development.
Emphasising the importance of safeguarding indigenous identity, the Minister underlined that cultural preservation must go hand in hand with socio-economic empowerment.
During the consultation, the Minister also highlighted key interventions undertaken by the Tribal Affairs Department Jammu and Kashmir to accelerate the socio-economic advancement of tribal communities across Jammu and Kashmir.
Emphasising the need for synergy between civil society and government institutions, Rana stressed that coordinated efforts are essential to achieving inclusive and sustainable development.
He urged the Trust to strengthen its collaboration with the Tribal Research Institute Jammu and Kashmir to undertake high-quality, evidence-based research on various dimensions of tribal life, including traditions, language, cultural practices, and contemporary socio-economic challenges.
“Policy must be rooted in credible data and field-based research,” the Minister observed, adding that evidence-driven insights would enable the government to design targeted interventions and formulate responsive policies that genuinely address the needs of tribal communities.
Chairman of the Trust, Arshad Choudhary, briefed the Minister on the Trust’s ongoing programmes and future roadmap, particularly initiatives focused on educational outreach, youth empowerment, and cultural documentation.
The meeting was attended by Mohammad Mumtaz Ali, Director Tribal Affairs, and Abdul Khabir, Director of the Tribal Research Institute, J&K, besides trustees of GDCT, including Showkat Choudhary, General Secretary Sadiq Azad, and Advocate Zulkarnain Choudhary.
