Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Choudhary Lal Singh today said that the Government is making all out efforts to uplift the living standards of the people of the State especially Gujjar and Bakerwal community.The Minister was interacting with various deputations of Gujjar and Bakerwal community of Kathua district, here today.The G&B deputations projected their demands including opening of mobile school for G&B, issuance of BPL ration cards, un-interrupted power supply in G&B basties, providing of adequate drinking water facilities, road connectivity, free medical facilities to livestock, regular visit of Veterinary Doctor in G&B basties for animals medical treatment and allotment of forest enclosures for grazing.The Minister gave them patient hearing and assured them that their genuine demands will be looked into.
The Minister said the Government is committed to make residential colonies for Tribal population with all the basic facilities including drinking water, road connectivity, power, health, education and better lanes and drains.Choudhary Lal Singh said land grabbing is a serious crime which no Government would tolerate and should be dealt with strictly. However, those who over a period of time are using small patches of land for temporary shelter should be allowed to do so. He said Government is serious for the welfare of the community and are taking all possible steps in this direction.Later, the Minister also inspected various roadside forest enclosures at Kathua city and directed the Divisional Forest Officer to utilize water tankers for irrigation of plants so that survival of the planted plants should be maintained.