For centuries, Jammu and Kashmir’s nomadic community, known as Gujjars and Bakerwals, have undertaken arduous journeys on foot as part of their seasonal migration to find better pastures for their livestock. They often lose cattle and, on occasion, family members to accidents and hardships along the way. However, technological solutions and transport services have been offered this year to help them cover long distances in less time and more safely.
J&K’s Tribal Affairs Department has surveyed 98,000 such families to map their routes and transit locations. “Technology has been leveraged in various aspects, including the development of smart cards to replace multiple annual (No Objection Certificates) NOCs and permissions for migration. A pilot project covers 10,000 families over the next three months,” Dr. Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary, Secretary to the Tribal Affairs Department, told The Hindu.
Using remote sensing technology and geographic information system, officials delineated pastures and the grazing land in each district. This step was followed by mapping of routes and the migration pattern to understand when Bakerwals and their livestock use the highways, first in spring when they start from the plains of Jammu and then in autumn when they leave the upper reaches of the Kashmir valley. A communication network was worked out and radio messaging was used to reach those grazing livestock in the upper reaches to relay messages about free transportation and the halting points.
