Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Aug 29: The houseboat owners in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of systemic negligence and demanded reservations similar to those guaranteed to Gujars and Bakarwals.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, a group of houseboat owners, including Tariq Ahmad Patlo and Mohammad Yaqoob Donoo, accused the administration’s actions as systemic negligence while calling for reservations on the pattern guaranteed to Gujars and Bakarwals.
“We have been requesting the government for a long time to give us timber on standardized rates, as the number of houseboats has decreased from 2500 to 900 but we have only been given circulars and hollow promises,” they said.
“While political parties have recently released their manifestos, there was no mention of any schemes or benefits for the houseboat owners. We have been neglected,” they added.
Notably, the group believes that if Gujars and Bakarwals have been specially looked after and recognized, houseboat owners should be given similar consideration given their unique problems and requirements.
