Srinagar, Oct 22 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir government has redrawn the social caste list in the Union Territory by including 15 new groups in the Scheduled Caste category who will now have the benefits of reservations in jobs and education.
The the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, issued an order to redraw the social caste list under the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004.
Among those included in the list are refugees from West Pakistan who had settled in Jammu, Gorkhas and members from the Jat community.
The decision follows a recent announcement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the Pahari-speaking people in Jammu and Kashmir.
In today's circular, the Jammu and Kashmir administration also substituted the term "Pahari-speaking people" with "Pahari ethnic people" to avoid legal problems.
The castes have been included in the list of socially backward castes now included social castes are Waghey (Chopan), Ghirath/Bhati/Chang community, Jat community, Saini community, Markabans/PonyWalas, Sochi community, 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 Acharyasa.
According to the notification, potters (Kumahars), shoe repairers (working without the aid of machines), Bangies Khakrobes(Sweepers), barbers, washerman and Dooms have been respectively replaced by Kumahars, Mochi, Bangies Khakrobes, Hajjam Atrai, Dhobi, and Dooms (excluding SCs).-(KNS)