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Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Sonam Wangchuk: ‘Govt's Ladakh notifications a partial resolution… If our main issues not met, BJP will face the consequences'
The Centre on Tuesday notified a series of regulations aimed at addressing Ladakh's concerns over jobs and cultural preservation. The new legal framework introduces a domicile-based job reservation system, and talks of recognition of local languages and procedural clarity in civil service recruitment. However, it stops short of any safeguards regarding land, promise of a Legislature for the newly formed Union Territory, and extension of the Sixth Schedule of Constitution to Ladakh. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been spearheading some of these demands, speaks to The Indian Express on the new regulations. Excerpts: * What is your view regarding the regulations the government has announced? To put things in perspective, the notification is only a partial resolution of the third point on the agenda of the negotiations between Ladakh and the Government of India. It was highest in terms of urgency, but low on priority. There was a concern regarding unemployment and that has been addressed. But our main issues are safeguarding our land and culture through Sixth Schedule protections… and the restoration of democracy. Ladakh has no form of people's participation at the moment. People have always expected constitutional safeguards for this region. The BJP assured us of the Sixth Schedule in two elections – the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and 2020 LAHDC (Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council) polls. It was part of their manifesto… People have expressed their displeasure by not electing the BJP in recent polls, and it will happen again if this issue is not addressed in the next talks that will be held in June and July. * The government notifications make no mention of land. This is only a partial resolution of our third point – of employment. It was mutually agreed by our leaders and the MHA (Union Ministry of Home Affairs) that they will first sort out the issue of employment of youth, and then issues of the Sixth Schedule and the rest would be taken up. But there is fear here as to what if the government just leaves things at this and doesn't take forward the main issues till the LAHDC elections. That will be a problem. So the coming two months are important (to gauge the government's sincerity). The next meeting (is expected to) discuss safeguards and democracy. If not, then the Hill Council elections will see an upheaval. … All Opposition parties have formally announced that if they (the government) resolve the main issues, they will offer the Hill Council elections on a platter to the BJP. But the reverse is also true: that if they do not address the main issue, they will face the consequences in the coming elections. * But you agree that the government has addressed the language and culture issue? That was never an issue. That was just mixed (in) as a feel-good factor. It was never demanded. At least it was not a part of the key issues. But it is a good step. * The demand from Ladakh was also for a 30-year-stay clause to get domicile. But the new regulations set this at 15 years. Yes. That is why I call it a partial resolution of our issues. People are not fully happy with the notifications. The demand was either 30 years or a cutoff date of 1989. But this issue will no longer figure in our negotiations. We hope that at the next two meetings, the real issues of safeguards and democracy will be taken up. Otherwise it will be a breach of trust and confidence. * Do you see the government's plans to open up Ladakh for the renewable energy industry as contrary to your demands regarding land safeguards? I always start with full hope and faith that the government will be sincere in its words and provide Sixth Schedule safeguards. As far as power projects and other industrial endeavours of national interest are concerned, it is the highest priority of Ladakhi people to be of use to the nation. Our only thing is it should be done in consultation with the people. The Sixth Schedule will not stop any important industrial project. It will only make Ladakhi people a partner in it. With the knowledge and wisdom they have about the land, it will be even better. But without the Sixth Schedule, people who know nothing about Ladakh are making big decisions. (For example) This big solar project without any consultation is earmarked at a place where the most precious Pashmina is produced. Those pastures will be gone. With public participation in such decisions, national interest will be served along with environmental protection. * Are you okay with the idea of no Sixth Schedule but similar protections? Yes, if these protections are based on the indigenous tribal identity of the local people. If they give similar protection or more, people will respond logically. But if you are ready to give all of those, why not the Sixth Schedule? * If the government gives you all the protections you are seeking but does not give you statehood or an Assembly, will that be acceptable? The Sixth Schedule and statehood are our main demands. Even if one of the two is given, it would be called progress. If both are denied, we will have to continue engaging in our struggle.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ladakh's new domicile rules: Specific council reservations and 85% local job quota - all you need to know
NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday announced new reservation and domicile rules for the Union Territory of Ladakh, providing 85% job reservation for local residents and reserving one-third of the seats in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC) for women. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The move is seen as a major step toward addressing the long-standing demands of Ladakhis for safeguards to protect their identity, culture, and land, following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. According to official notifications, the new rules take effect immediately. Key highlights of the new rules: Job reservation: 85% of jobs in Ladakh will be reserved for locals. Domicile criteria: Anyone who has lived in Ladakh for 15 years, or Studied there for seven years and appeared in Class 10 or 12 exams within the UT, will qualify as a domicile. Children of central government employees, All India Services officers, PSU staff, and officials from autonomous bodies, public sector banks, central universities, and research institutes who have served in Ladakh for at least 10 years will also be eligible. Women's reservation: At least one-third of the total seats in LAHDCs will now be reserved for women. These seats will rotate among different constituencies as per an official notification. EWS quota: The 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) will continue. The decision follows months of protests and negotiations. In January 2023, the Centre formed a high-level committee led by minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai to address concerns raised by Ladakh's civil society. The committee held several rounds of talks with local representatives. In October 2024, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite fast in Delhi to demand constitutional safeguards for Ladakh. His protest intensified national attention on the region's issues. Subsequent discussions were held with civil society leaders on December 3, 2024, January 15, 2025, and most recently on May 27. These policy changes are expected to play a key role in protecting the region's unique cultural and demographic identity.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Time of India
Ladakh is safe for travel, says Hill Council following ‘unsafe' rumours
SRINAGAR: Amid concerns among tourists about the security situation in the Union territories of J&K and Ladakh in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror strike last month, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh and the Ladakh UT administration on Saturday said that Ladakh was safe for travel and urged visitors to ignore misinformation circulating in the public domain portraying the region as unsafe. While meeting a delegation of tour and travel operators of Ladakh UT who raised this issue with LAHDC Leh CEC Tashi Gyalson and DC Leh Santosh Sukhadeve, Gyalson said the region was safe for travel and requested tourists to disregard rumours. Gyalson said LAHDC was committed to promoting tourism and would ensure all necessary support for the security and well-being of visitors. Responding to the delegation's request for the early opening of Leh-Manali road, Gyalson said he had informed the Border Roads Organisation to restore the route, and efforts were underway to open it at the earliest.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Time of India
Zojila Pass connecting Ladakh with the rest of India now open for tourists; no prior authorisation needed for visit
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel With the early opening of the Zojila Pass — the vital link between the Union Territory of Ladakh and the rest of the country — the Siachen base camp is now open to tourists, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh chief executive councillor Tashi Gyalson said on Monday. He added that visitors will no longer need prior authorisation or a no-objection certificate (NOC) to access the base also announced that the Galwan Valley , one of Ladakh's key tourist attractions and currently off-limits, will be opened to visitors from June 15 via Shyok village."This will be the first time Galwan Valley will be open for tourists," the CEC said. The opening will coincide with the fifth anniversary of 2020 Galwan Valley April 1, 2025, Border Roads Organisation reopened Zojila Pass for traffic after a 32-day closure. BRO had described this year's early reopening of the pass as an achievement, given the extreme weather Gyalson said the early opening of Zojila pass offered a window to open places of tourism, including Siachen base camp, after the deadly attack in Pahalgam that left 26 dead, nearly 50 public parks and gardens located in vulnerable areas of Kashmir valley have been shut as a precautionary measure in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, officials said on Tuesday. Gates have been closed at 48 of the 87 public parks and gardens in Kashmir in view of the threat perception to tourists, they said the security review was an ongoing process and more locations may be added to the list in the coming officials said the tourist locations which have been closed are in far-flung areas of Kashmir and include some of the new destinations thrown open over the past 10 spots put off limit for the tourists include Dooshpathri, Kokernag, Duksum, Sinthan Top, Acchabal, Bangus valley, Margan Top and the authorities have not issued a formal order to this effect, the entry to these places has been case of several Mughal Gardens in south Kashmir, the doors to these spots have been decision to shut down the tourist locations comes a week after terrorists shot dead 26 persons -- mostly tourists -- at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam resort.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ladakh council meets Amit Shah, wants India embassies update sites on UT
Amit Shah (File photo) SRINAGAR: A delegation of BJP members, led by Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) chief, met Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Saturday, seeking his intervention in strengthening the gazetted recruitment process and updating the websites of Indian embassies abroad to recognise Ladakh as a separate UT. LAHDC chief executive councillor Tashi Gyalson mentioned that the formation of new districts of Zanskar, Drass, Kargil, Nubra, and Sham is a crucial step towards inclusive development in the UT. The delegation sought Shah's 'direct intervention to ensure that the rights and interests of local youth are protected'. They also stressed the restoration of the budget allocations for LAHDC and the UT administration . Tashi said that Shah has assured the Centre's commitment to the development and welfare of Ladakh.
