Tribal Affairs Minister Emphasizes Evidence-Based Policy & Cultural Preservation in High-Level Consultation With GDCT

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL 

JAMMU MARCH 02:-In a significant step toward strengthening tribal welfare initiatives, Tribal Affairs Minister Javed Ahmed Rana today discussed with the trustees of Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust (GDCT) the ongoing efforts aimed at the welfare and upliftment of Gujjar-Bakerwal tribe.

The meeting featured in-depth deliberations on the preservation and promotion of Gojri culture, art and language, alongside discussions on the Trust’s expanding initiatives in education, tribal welfare and community development.

Emphasizing 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 reviewed key interventions undertaken by the Tribal Affairs Department to accelerate the socio-economic advancement of tribal communities across J&K.

Particular attention was given to grassroots challenges, including access to education, livelihood opportunities and social security benefits.

Highlighting the need for synergy between civil society and government institutions, Rana stressed that coordinated and sustained efforts are essential to achieving inclusive and sustainable development.

He urged the Trust to strengthen its collaboration with the Tribal Research Institute 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 programs and future roadmap, particularly initiatives focused on educational outreach, youth empowerment and cultural documentation.

The meeting was attended by Mohd. Mumtaz Ali, Director Tribal Affairs and Dr. Abdul Khabir, Director, Tribal Research Institute, J&K besides trustees of GDCT including Dr. Showkat Choudhary, General Secretary Sadiq Azad, and Advocate Zulkarnain Choudhary.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the Minister assured full departmental support for initiatives that preserve the rich heritage of the Gujjar-Bakerwal tribe while expanding educational access, livelihood generation and broader socio-economic opportunities for tribal populations.