Violence Against Tribal Gujjar Bakarwal Women In Jammu And Kashmir

This research paper is an attempt to understand about the different forms of violence that Gujjar bakarwal tribal women are subjected to in some form or the other and highlights the main reasons why such abuse takes place and suggest remedial measures to curb this menace. After Kashmiris and Dogras, the Gujjars and Bakarwals are the third-largest ethnic group in Jammu and Kashmir, making up more than 20% of the UT's population. Among the nomadic pastoral tribes prevalent in Jammu and Kashmir UT, the Gujjar and Bakarwal tribes are the most well-known, distinctive, and significant cultural group.They are the UT'S most populous Scheduled Tribe having a population of more than 20 lakh as per the 2011 census and one fourth of them are living nomadic life. Out of the total nomadic Gujjar and Bakerwals, 66 percent population of nomadic Gujjar-Bakerwals who fall under Scheduled Tribe groups in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir are living Below Poverty Line, revealed a survey conducted by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF), a frontal organization working for the cause of Indian tribes. The condition of Gujjar and Bakerwal women in Jammu and Kashmir is the worst, because of lack of education, lack of awareness about their rights and their nomadic way of living. Like many other places Gujjar and Bakerwal women’s position in Jammu and Kashmir has been central in the upbringing of children, grazing their goats, sheep’s buffaloes,cows and horses and managing domestic affairs.Voilence against these women is common and took place in many forms whether in physical, psychological,biological or political.The central government, UT government, NGO's and local bodies are jointly working for the improvement of Gujjar and Ba-kerwal women’s conditions. The objectives of the study are, to understand and explore the forms of violence against Gujjar and Bakerwal women and also to explore the determinants and factors of exploitation, and to suggest the policy recommendations to cope up with this situation. The study is descriptive and explorative in nature, the source of datta is secondary and opted different research papers,journals, books , government reports NGOS reports،NHRC reports and census reports.

Keywords:Tribal,Gujjar,Bakarwal,Voilence,kashmiri’dogras