Leh, December 18:
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Shri Kavinder Gupta on Wednesday launched the Holistic Rural Development Project (HRDP) for Nubra and the Focus Rural Development Project (FRDP) for Khaltsi under HDFC Bank’s Parivartan CSR initiative, in partnership with the PHIA Foundation, reaffirming the UT Administration’s commitment to improving living standards while preserving Ladakh’s rich cultural heritage.
The FRDP-Khaltsi project aims to strengthen community institutions through the establishment of stone carving centres, provision of artisan toolkits and heritage documentation, promoting climate-resilient livelihoods across Khaltsi and Saspol blocks. The HRDP-Nubra focuses on enhancing quality of life in Nubra villages through initiatives such as passive solar greenhouses, agriculture tool banks and allied interventions.
Addressing the gathering, the Lt Governor said the projects mark an important step towards empowering artisans, farmers and local communities while safeguarding Ladakh’s world-renowned cultural traditions. He emphasised the need to protect traditional arts and handicrafts by linking them with sustainable livelihoods and commercial opportunities.
Shri Kavinder Gupta reaffirmed that the UT Administration remains committed to transparent, effective and sustainable development policies, stating that partnerships between the government, financial institutions and community organisations are key to inclusive growth in Ladakh. He also urged citizens, especially youth and artisans, to actively participate in cultural preservation, environmental protection and community development.
Chief Secretary Dr Pawan Kotwal highlighted the role of NGOs and CSR initiatives in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat, noting that modern toolkits provided under the project would significantly benefit youth engaged in stone carving in Khaltsi.
Executive Director, PHIA Foundation, Johnson Topno, outlined the foundation’s ongoing initiatives in Ladakh, while Tundup Wangail, Project Lead (Leh), delivered the vote of thanks.
The event was attended by Administrative Secretaries P.T. Rudra Goud, Bhanu Prabha and Moses Kunzang, officials of HDFC Bank and PHIA Foundation, beneficiaries and representatives of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) from Khaltsi, Nubra, Saspol and Gya-Meru.
