AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND ETHNIC POLITICS IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR: THE IMPACT OF SCHEDULED TRIBE RECOGNITION ON PAHARIS AND GUJJAR-BAKERWALS
Keywords:
Affirmative Action, Scheduled Tribe Recognition, Ethnic Politics, Gujjar-Bakerwals, Paharis, Jammu and Kashmir, Reservation Policy, Political RepresentationAbstract
Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed complex interactions between ethnicity, identity politics, and affirmative action policies. The recognition of disadvantaged communities under the Scheduled Tribe category has played an important role in shaping political participation, social mobility, and claims for representation. Among the communities affected by these developments, Gujjar-Bakerwals and Paharis occupy a significant position due to their historical presence and socio-political aspirations.
This research paper examines the role of affirmative action policies in transforming ethnic politics in Jammu and Kashmir, with particular focus on the impact of Scheduled Tribe recognition on Gujjar-Bakerwals and Paharis. The study explores how constitutional safeguards, reservation policies, and state recognition have influenced identity formation, political mobilisation, and community relations.
The paper analyses the historical background of Gujjar-Bakerwals, who received Scheduled Tribe status in 1991, and the Paharis received it in 2024 by the current government. It examines how affirmative action has created opportunities for political empowerment while also generating debates regarding resource distribution, representation, and inter-community relations.
The study adopts a qualitative research methodology based on secondary sources including government reports, academic studies, policy documents, and literature on tribal politics and ethnic identity in India. The research argues that affirmative action has contributed significantly to the political inclusion of marginalised communities; however, effective empowerment requires broader socio-economic development and inclusive governance.
The study concludes that Scheduled Tribe recognition has become not only a welfare mechanism but also an important factor shaping ethnic politics and political identities in Jammu and Kashmir.
