Bill likely in Parliament for ST status to J&K’s Pahari, 3 other communities. Reservations likely to exceed 60%

25 July 2023

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Srinagar, July 25: The central government is all set to introduce a new bill in the ongoing Parliament session granting Schedule Tribe (ST) status to Paharis, Gadda Brahmin, Kolis, and Paddari tribes in Jammu & Kashmir.

Sources who have seen the draft bill told Ziraat Times that the bill is designed to expand the coverage of governmental schemes and reservation benefits to these communities in J&K.

According to sources, at this stage, it is not clear if the new ST communities would be granted reservation in jobs, education, etc. as “quota within quota” under the existing ST reservation quota of 10 per cent or if a new reservation will be introduced.

“Given that granting the new communities reservation under the existing 10 per cent quota is a sensitive issue, it is likely that a new reservation will be introduced for the proposed four new communities”, an official privy to the matter said.

How would the new Reservation System of J&K look like?

Post-August 5, 2019 J&K’s reservations stand at 60 per cent, including 8 per cent for SCs, 10 per cent for STs, 4 per cent for Other Social Castes (OSC), 4 per cent for Residents of Actual Line of Control and International Border, 10 per cent for RBA, 4 per cent for Pahari Speaking People (PSP), and 10 per cent to EWS. A new horizontal reservation of 6 per cent for ex-Servicemen and 4 per cent for Physically Challenged People has also been introduced.

Once the four new communities are granted ST status, they are also likely to become eligible for various reservation benefits provided by the government. This could include reserved seats in educational institutions, reserved positions in government jobs, and access to welfare schemes specifically designed for ST communities.

If sources are to be believed, the new quota would be in the range of 4 – 7 per cent, which would make J&K’s total reservation anywhere between 64 to 67 per cent.

How do the other reserved communities see this development?

The inclusion of new communities as STs could lead to increased competition for the limited reserved seats and positions available in government jobs and educational institutions, other reserved communities feel. This might result in reduced opportunities for the existing ST communities, such as Gujjars and Bakarwals, who have been availing these benefits, they believe.

Jammu & Kashmir, like other states and union territories in India, has a reservation quota limit beyond which the total reservation cannot exceed. The inclusion of new ST communities would require a Parliament-approved waiver or modification.
While the inclusion of Paharis, Gaddi Brahmins, Kolis, and Paddaris in the Scheduled Tribe list is still in the proposal stage, if approved, it could have a significant impact on the reservation system in Jammu and Kashmir.The Paharis, Gaddi Brahmins, Kolis, and Paddaris, who are indigenous communities of Jammu and Kashmir, believe that their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list would help to ensure that they have equal opportunities in education and employment. They also believe that their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list would be in line with the constitutional guarantees of equality and non-discrimination.

However, there is another view on the matter, which believes that the Paharis, Gaddi Brahmins, Kolis, and Paddaris are not as economically and educationally backward as the Gujjars and Bakerwals.

There is also a concern that the inclusion of these communities in the Scheduled Tribe list would lead to an increase in reservation, which would disadvantage other communities in Jammu and Kashmir.