Kargil: Deputy Commissioner and CEO of LAHDC Kargil, Rakesh Kumar, made his maiden visit to the culturally rich Aryan Valley, where he attended the Dharti Aba Jan Baghidari Abhiyan 2025 outreach camp at Garkone village and held a public durbar to directly interact with residents.
During the event, departmental heads and representatives from key sectors—including Sheep Husbandry, Revenue, R&B Division, PHE, Horticulture, KREDA, Animal Husbandry, Health, ICDS, Rural Development, and Tourism—briefed the public on various Centrally Sponsored Schemes and ongoing development initiatives in the region.
Addressing the gathering, DC Rakesh Kumar urged locals to take full advantage of the services being provided during the camp and encouraged them to visit each departmental stall to better understand the schemes available to them.
Highlighting the cultural significance of Aryan Valley, he stressed the need to preserve, promote, and showcase its unique heritage to the world. To this end, he announced that a special tourism camp would soon be organized to explore new opportunities for establishing homestays and guest houses in the area. He advised residents to begin preparing relevant documents to ensure a smooth registration process when the camp is held.
Further emphasizing economic potential, the Deputy Commissioner spoke about the branding and marketing of apricots, a major product of the region, and assured that efforts would be made to explore Border Tourism prospects. Regarding education, he committed to recommending the establishment of an Eklavya School for the region and announced a dedicated camp will soon be organized for issuing Domicile and ALC certificates.
The event also saw a warm welcome from former CEC and Councilor of Silmo Constituency, Feroz Ahmed Khan, who thanked the DC for visiting Aryan Valley. He highlighted critical issues related to road connectivity, school infrastructure, and requested faster implementation of homestay schemes and horticulture support.
Nominated Councilor Rigzin Gurmeth also spoke on the occasion, pressing for the establishment of the Eklavya School and urging joint departmental efforts to speed up development work in the valley.
Later in the day, the DC chaired a public durbar, listening to and addressing grievances raised by residents of various villages. On the occasion, LRC certificates, horticulture passbooks, and dustbins were distributed among beneficiaries.
The visit concluded with a vibrant display of folk performances, leaving the DC and accompanying dignitaries captivated by the rich cultural expressions of Aryan Valley.
The Deputy Commissioner was accompanied by officers from all major departments, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to inclusive development in one of Kargil’s most culturally significant regions.
