Jat Sikhs demand reservation in jobs

Chandigarh, Dec 18 (UNI) The Jat Sikh Welfare Association has demanded reservation in jobs for the community.

Speaking at a seminar on problems of the Jat Sikhs organised by the association here, JSWA general secretary Hari Harpal S Bath said decreasing size of farm holdings, decline in the proportion of Jat Sikhs in the defence forces and discouragement of transport activities outside Punjab since the 1984 riots have drastically limited job avenues for the community.

It is time for children of agriculturalists to explore other avenues as many Jat Sikh farmers are committing suicide due to lack of economic viability of farming in the state, Mr Batth asserted and advised that those who wanted to stick to farming should now diversify and should use modern methods.

Members of the association also suggested control on the purchase of agricultural land by people of other states on the pattern of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttaranchal and Rajasthan. The seminar was attended by Jat Sikhs from Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

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