Job quota for 15 more groups as J&K expands its social caste list | India News
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration announced Saturday that the Union territory’s social caste list has been redrawn and enlarged to 42 by adding 15 more groups such as Jats, West Pakistani refugees, Gorkhas, Wagheys and Pony Walas. The newly added communities will be entitled to 4% reservation in jobs set aside for backward castes in J&K.
The announcement followed Union home minister Amit Shah declaring on October 4 during his visit to J&K that the region’s linguistic minority Pahari-speaking people will get scheduled tribe reservation benefits along with Gujjars and Bakerwals.
Saturday’s notification also mentioned that “Pahari-speaking people” had been changed to “Pahari Ethnic People” in the J&K Reservation Rules.
The new backward caste list includes Waghey (Chopan), Ghirath/Bhati/Chang, Jat, Saini, Markabans/PonyWalas, Sochi, Christian Biradari (converted from Hindu Valmiki), Sunar/Swarankar, Teeli (Hindu Teeli along with already existing Muslim Teli), Perna/Kouro (Kaurav), Bojru/Decount/Dubdabay Brahmin, Gorkans, Gorkhas, West Pakistani refugees (excluding SCs) and Acharyas.
Some name changes were also made to the previous list. Those listed earlier as potters, shoe repairers (working without the aid of machines), sweepers, barbers and washermen will henceforth be called Kumahars, Mochi, Bangies Khakrobes, Hajjam Atrai and Dhobi.
The additions were made on the recommendations of the three-member J&K Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission, constituted in 2020 and headed by former high court judge GD Sharma.
The announcement followed Union home minister Amit Shah declaring on October 4 during his visit to J&K that the region’s linguistic minority Pahari-speaking people will get scheduled tribe reservation benefits along with Gujjars and Bakerwals.
Saturday’s notification also mentioned that “Pahari-speaking people” had been changed to “Pahari Ethnic People” in the J&K Reservation Rules.
The new backward caste list includes Waghey (Chopan), Ghirath/Bhati/Chang, Jat, Saini, Markabans/PonyWalas, Sochi, Christian Biradari (converted from Hindu Valmiki), Sunar/Swarankar, Teeli (Hindu Teeli along with already existing Muslim Teli), Perna/Kouro (Kaurav), Bojru/Decount/Dubdabay Brahmin, Gorkans, Gorkhas, West Pakistani refugees (excluding SCs) and Acharyas.
Some name changes were also made to the previous list. Those listed earlier as potters, shoe repairers (working without the aid of machines), sweepers, barbers and washermen will henceforth be called Kumahars, Mochi, Bangies Khakrobes, Hajjam Atrai and Dhobi.
The additions were made on the recommendations of the three-member J&K Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission, constituted in 2020 and headed by former high court judge GD Sharma.
