Jammu, Feb 12 (IANS): Members of tribal Gujjar and nomadic Bakarwal (goatherd) communities Thursday demanded extension of the forest rights act enacted by parliament in 2006 to Jammu and Kashmir.

A number of Gujjars and Bakarwals, who have been given scheduled tribe (ST) status in the state, held a protest demonstration at the Press Club here, seeking being granted rights on forest lands similar to those ST communities living in other states of the country.

The protestors alleged the tribal communities of Jammu and Kashmir have been discriminated against by successive state governments and demanded that they should be treated at par with other ST communities of India.

They said tribals in other states are entitled for "title rights" and ownership of land which is being cultivated by them since long, but the government of Jammu and Kashmir has not extended the same benefits to those living here.

The Gujjars and Bakarwals demanded that each family of the tribal community and forest dwellers of the state be allotted four hectares land (as per the national act) with 'use rights' to grazing areas and pastoralist routes.

They said that more than 40 percent of the total population of Gujjars and Bakarwals in the state are landless and deserve dwelling rights on forest lands which they are using as traditional inhabitants since centuries.