Jammu, April 9: The Pahari Core Committee (Erstwhile Doda) on Wednesday renewed its demand for the implementation of Lokur Committee criteria in the Chenab region, saying the area meets all key parameters required for recognition under the framework.
Addressing a press conference, Pahari Core Committee president and social activist Sadaket Malik said the Chenab region — comprising Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts — fulfils the five core criteria laid down by the Lokur Committee: distinct cultural identity, geographical isolation, social and economic backwardness, primitive traits, and limited interaction with the wider population.
Malik said communities in the Chenab Valley have preserved their linguistic and cultural heritage for generations despite difficult living conditions and limited state support.
He said the region’s mountainous terrain and remoteness have historically restricted access to roads, education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities, resulting in long-standing developmental disadvantages.
According to Malik, this geographical isolation has also contributed to limited contact with the outside world, which he said aligns with the Lokur Committee’s parameter of “shyness of contact.”
He argued that the lack of formal recognition and targeted policy support has further deepened socio-economic challenges in the region.
“The implementation of Lokur Committee criteria is not merely a procedural matter but a question of justice and equity,” Malik said, adding that recognition would help preserve the region’s identity while ensuring inclusive development.
The committee urged the Union Government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the Chenab region and expedite the process of granting appropriate status to eligible communities.
It also called for the formation of a dedicated panel to review ground realities and ensure that benefits reach genuinely deserving groups.
Malik appealed to policymakers, civil society groups and stakeholders to support what he described as a legitimate demand aimed at the socio-economic upliftment of the region.
