Original upload date: Tue, 17 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT
Archive date: Thu, 09 Dec 2021 01:41:39 GMT
While houses of many members of the indigenous Gujjar and Bakerwal Community in Pahalgam were demolished by the administration as a part of a drive against "illegal settlements" in the area, many othe
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rs have been asked to evacuate their houses immediately.
The Indigenous community of Gujjar Bakerwal has been living in these places (forests) for eternity. Our community is responsible for taking care of forests, then how do we become illegal occupiers of the land? Since members of the Gujjar Bakerwal community did not have access to education in the beginning, they settled themselves in forests and start living on their own by growing their crops and creating temporary shelters. "Where will We go if our houses are demolished?" one of the men who has been notified to evacuate his house asked.
The administration says that "Encroachments" were demoished as per a High court order. The administration says the people have occupied the land illegally and every illegal settlement will be razed to the ground.
The Community has been demanding the implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006, which gives Land ownership rights to Scheduled Tribes (like the Gujar and Bakerwal community) in many parts of india.
Story by Qazi Shibli
DOP: Atta ul Mumin Zahid
Editing: Mir Musavir
Camera by: Muzamil Mubeen