Van Gujjars to get smart cards for identity in Uttarakhand, says Chief Secy

Dehradun, July 25
Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain, charing a meeting at the Secretariat here today, said several initiatives would be taken to bring Van Gujjars into the mainstream of society.

The Van Gujjars of the Rajaji National Park and the Corbett National Park would be rehabilitated at other places and their smart cards would be made for identity. A proposal to include them in the Scheduled Tribe category would be forwarded and a concrete programme would be chalked out by the Social Welfare Department for their social and economical development.

Chief Secretary Jain said out of the 1,390 Gujjars from the Rajaji National Park, 1,228 had been rehabilitated in Pathri and Gainda Khatta in Haridwar. “Soon the remaining 162 will also be rehabilitated,” he said, adding that 160 acres in Haridwar had been sanctioned for 181 Gujjars of the Corbett National Park.

Jain said the rehabilitation also included the facilities of electricity, water, hospitals, schools and other basic amenities. “Besides this, one-time payment of Rs 10 lakh each will be made to 6,151 Gujjar families to bring them in the mainstream of society,” he said.

Jain directed Secretary Social, Welfare, Subardhan to take effective measures to bring in change in the lifestyle of Van Gujjars through skill development, vocational training, counselling, awareness programmes and education.

The Chief Secretary said a resolution would be passed in the state Assembly and the Centre would be urged to include Gujjars in the ST category. He directed the Forest Department to issue them smart cards to boost their confidence. These cards would consist of their fingerprints and other personal details, so that they could open bank accounts, get issued voter ID and ration cards. He directed the officials concerned to conduct fresh baseline survey.

Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had constituted a high-level committee chaired by the Chief Secretary to draft a policy for the rehabilitation of Van Gujjars.

Principal Chief Forest Conservator RBS Rawat, Secretary, Finance, Radha Raturi, Principal, Forest Conservator (Wildlife), SC Sharma, Additional Secretary, Forest, Sushant Patnaik and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Other proposals

 To bring Van Gujjars into the mainstream of society Including them in the ST category

 One-time payment of Rs 10 lakh each to 6,151 Gujjar families.