Women of the Gujjar-Bakerwal community of the state live in utter deprivation due to poverty, illiteracy, nomadic way of life, early marriage, superstitions, traditional neglect and lack of awareness about welfare schemes, says a survey conducted by the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF). The TRCF survey says their presence in all major institutions of the state, since 1947, is almost negligible. Javaid Rahi, secretary of the foundation, while releasing the survey a day before International Women’s Day today said illiteracy and poverty among nomadic Gujjars caused a shadow over the future of Gujjar women, who constituted more than 14 per cent of the total population of the state, and reside in backward, hilly and border areas. The survey said although the state government has provided 10 per cent reservation since 1991 to Gujjars under the Scheduled Tribe category, it was surprising that the presence of the women of this tribe in political and government affairs was almost zero. The survey which covers the overall development of Gujjar women revealed that since 1947 no women had either been elected or nominated as a member of the state Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council or Parliament. The survey reveals that during the last 67 years only four women have qualified the Kashmir Administrative Services exam. No women from the Gujjar tribe has qualified the IAS/IFS exam since 1947. No Gujjar women has served at the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police for the last 62 year, the survey revealed. It says in the state judiciary there are more than 85 Munsifs, 56 Sub-Judges, 67 District and Sessions Judges and 14 High Court Judges while there is one woman from the Gujjar community who has been serving as the Sessions Judge. The survey also focused on J&K Bank and said no Gujjar women had served as a probationary officer or above in the bank since its establishment. Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation survey * The survey which covers the overall development of Gujjar women revealed that since 1947 no women had either been elected or nominated as a member of the state Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council or Parliament * It reveals that during the last 67 years only four women have qualified the Kashmir Administrative Services exam. No women from the Gujjar tribe has qualified the IAS/IFS exam since 1947 * No Gujjar women has served at the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police for the past 62 years, the survey revealed