Srinagar, Nov 15 (KNS): Dr Mohammed FarooqKalas added an another feather to the already recognised talent of the beautiful PirPanchal region by compiling a scholarly study on an important and most relevant topic of the present day life on rural resources. The book titled “Common Property Resources and Rural Livelihood: Problems, Perspectives and Management in Jammu and Kashmir India” is first of its type in Jammu and Kashmir published so far and among very rare in the country. The book is a latest contribution of the scholar in the field of resource management.
The author was recently honoured in an impressive function at Rajouri for his literary work. The book had been published in Germany in 2014 is at par with international standard, and has been put to the digital catalogue. The study is based on first hand surveys, huge literature review, data interpretation and analysis incorporating advanced Geospatial tools and techniques. The thesis was finally accepted for the award of Degree of Doctorate by JamiaMilliaIslamia, Centrall University at New Delhi. The thesis was also approved for publication as referenced book by JamiaMilliaIslamia (JMI) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in 2012.
In his research project on Common Property Resources (CPRs), a brand new concept for effective rural development and perfectly relevant to the society particularly to the rural poor, the study by Dr. Kalas reveals that joint property resources in the shape of common lands, waters, minor forest products, grasses, fodder and forage etc in and around the villages and habitats common to the local residents are of immense importance as source of livelihood to the rural poor. According to NSSO (National Sample Survey Organization) there were average 15 percent CPR lands in the country in 1991 which are depleting and degrading constantly at the rate of 19 percent per decade. The book reveals that Jammu Kashmir has much more CPR potential than the national average but completely unattended in terms of conservation and management.
Dr. Kalas conducted his study in district Rajouri where he computed the amount of changes in land use and land cover over a period of thirty years and sliced into ten years interval as well, using advance technologies of remote sensing and GIS and assessed resultant adverse impacts on CPR and consequently on livestock and livelihood. The serious facts are noted that all the livestock varieties have decreased in per capita availability at an alarming rate, especially goat population declined to large extant over the span of time and equal proportion of people associated with activity have changed their profession either to agricultural labourers, household servants or even beggars. He also computed amount of various CPRs in each sample village, their proportion of contribution in total livelihood of the household and derived average values for individual village and whole of the district (the study area). He has noted huge dependency of rural households on CPRs which is correlated with various socio-physiographic factors like literacy, electrification, distance from roads and towns, altitude (topography), proportion of LPG served kitchens and tribal dominancy (in terms of population) etc and found how tribal are highly dependent on such resources while other said factors also play considerable role.
The author attempts to test various assumed strategies and schemes towards conservation and management of CPRs by collecting socio-economic responses of villagers, administration and other persons of acknowledged wisdom and found participatory type of schemes highly success oriented.
In the book the author of the view that it is the need of hour to act promptly for the conservation and management of such resources and establish dedicated institutions at village, block and district levels for the purpose and has put forward a list of suggestions regarding action plans and solutions to various possible problems arising during course of action.
Dr. Kalas’s work has been appreciated by the people in the state and especially by ZulfiqarChoudaryHon’ble minister of CA&PD and Tribal Affairs Government of Jammu and Kashmir, DDC Rajouri Dr. ShaidIqbalChoudary and Dr. KhursidBhatti, advisor to Prime Minister Office, a renounced historian, archaeologist and Gujjar writer among others during a facilitation function at DackBanglowRajouri a few weeks ago. (KNS)