First Raji tribal women aspires to become Dharchula block pramukh after poll victory 

First Raji tribal women aspires to become Dharchula block pramukh after poll victory

B.D.Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, Aug 2

Kriti Rajbar, the first woman from primitive tribe of ‘Ban Rawat’, habituating in forest regions of the Pithoragarh and Champawat districts of Uttarakhand state, who has won the recent Panchayat elections to become a member of the Block Development Committee (BDC_ member of Dhungatoli -Kimkhola seat of Dharchula block, aspires to become Block Pramukh of Dharchula block as the seat is reserved for tribal woman category.

‘Ban Rawat’ or ‘Ban Raji’ community, that is among the 5 tribal communities of the state, that were given a primitive tribe status by the then UP government in it’s notification of tribal casted in the year 1967.

The community, dwindling gradually from centuries due to it’s habitation in deep forests and feeding on natural food, has only over 900 members in 10 hamlets of Pithoragarh and Champawat districts.

“Now the ‘Ban Rawat’ community has awakened and stood for it’s rights. My victory is a victory of aspirations of ‘Raji’ community, dwelling in deep forests from centuries and now awakening for their rights gradually,” said Kriti, an MA and B Ed educated from a Dehradun college. Kriti’s father Gagan Singh Rajbar is two times legislator from Dharchula assembly seat.

Kriti, who will have to face another tribal community namely ‘Rung’ community member for the post of Block Pramukh of Dharchula block. But she is hopeful that n her party BJP would nominate her for the post keeping in mind the backwardness of ‘Ban Rawat’ community. “I’ve full faith in my party as it has given priority to tribal communities. The President of the country Dropadi Murmu, is also from backward tribal community and was given priority by the party being most backward forest dweller, I, am also from the same category,” claimed Kriti Rajbar.

According to election results, besides victory of Kriti Rajbar, there are 4 other tribal women who have won their respective tribal seats and likely to claim for the post of Block Pramukh. “Though, we have requested our party to give a chance of becoming block pramukh to my daughter, but the voters of the seat are pressurising my daughter to contest even if the party does not nominate her,” said Gagan Singh Rajbar, her father.