EC Yakzee led delegation, PAGIR President Tsewang Dorjey call on LG Mishra

Leh: A delegation from Changthang/Durbuk led by Executive Councillor, LAHDC Leh, Tashi Namgyal Yakzee, called on the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), at Raj Niwas Friday.

Commissioner Secretary, Labour, Mehboob Ali Khan and Secretary to LG, Ravinder Kumar, were present in the meeting.

Tashi Namgyal Yakzee apprised the LG of the functioning of the All Changthang Pashmina Growers Co-operative Marketing Society (ACPGCMS) and the machines/equipment purchased by them.

He requested the LG for his intervention in the issuance of a working visa for the technician so that the newly purchased pashmina dehairing plant could be installed in Leh. He also requested to expedite the project for the saturation of 4G mobile services in uncovered areas of Changthang/ Durbuk by BSNL.

Tashi Namgyal Yakzee apprised the LG of the issue faced by porters from Changthang engaged by the Indian Army for supplying purposes due to the reduction in the daily wages paid to them.

He informed that the porters were earlier paid Rs 661 per day which has now been reduced to Rs 450 per day with an additional 10 per cent fee for working in tough terrain.

He requested that the earlier rate of Rs 661 should be paid to the porters and requested for the LG’s intervention in this regard.

Commissioner Secretary, Labour, Shri Mehboob Ali Khan informed about the minimum wage fixed by the UT Administration for skilled and unskilled labourers and the assurance given by the Army to pay higher rates to the labourers as per the minimum wage fixed by Chief Labour Commissioner, GoI.

The LG assured to inquire about the matter and take up the matter with the concerned officials so that the porters get their due rates.

The LG inquired about the progress on the Yak Wool and Pashmina Wool development plans in Changthang along with the distribution of zero carbon-emission tents/shelters to pashmina goats to ensure there is a reduction in the mortality rate of kids of pashmina goats in the winter months.

He emphasised on improving the livelihood opportunities of villagers, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and women in Changthang by involving them in the development of Pashmina and Yak Wool projects, including the making of Rebo tents made of Yak wool, so that they can avail various benefits.

He stated that even the youth must be targeted to encourage them to come up with their own start-ups on Pashmina and Yak Wool and become entrepreneurs. The LG assured to provide all possible assistance in this regard.

Councillor, Kungyam, Thinles Nurboo and President, All Changthang Pashmina Growers Co-operative Marketing Society (ACPGCMS), Dorjay Stanzin were present in the meeting.

President, People’s Action Group for Inclusion and Rights (PAGIR), Tsewang Dorjey, called on the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), at Raj Niwas.

Secretary to LG, Ravinder Kumar; Deputy Secretary, GAD, Sonam Chhosdon and OSD to Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare department, Stanzin Shakya were present in the meeting.

Dorjey apprised the LG of the organisation which is working for the rights and inclusion of the persons with disabilities (PwDs) from Ladakh to enable them to contribute to the development of society.

He raised several issues related to persons with disabilities, viz. the need to establish Central Disability Rehabilitation Centre (CDRC) at SNM Hospital in Leh; the need to make District-level Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC) functional in Leh and Kargil; pension for around 300 PwDs from Ladakh; the need to get approval for the UT Ladakh Disability Rules from the central government, etc.

The LG commended PAGIR for its work for the benefit of persons with disabilities. He asked Dorjey to meet the Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, so that necessary measures could be taken in this regard.

A delegation from Kungyam led by its Naib Sarpanch, Tashi Paldan, called on the LG at Raj Niwas.
Paldan requested the LG to re-examine the survey conducted for the establishment of the Community Development (CD) Block at Himya in the Rong Churgyud area instead of Chumathang.

He informed the LG that the present block headquarter at Chumathang is at a distance of 60 km due to which people of the area find it difficult to cover such a distance to meet the concerned officials to apprise them of the issues faced by them.

He stressed the need to re-examine the report submitted to Deputy Commissioner, Leh in which Nee/Nurnis has been identified as the central location to establish the block headquarter as Himya is the centrally located area that is suitable to establish the headquarter of the CD Block. Shri Paldan requested the LG to shift the headquarter of the CD Block from Chumathang to Himya.

The LG stated that he wants to ensure that none of the citizens of Ladakh has to travel a long distance to meet the concerned government officials to apprise them of their issues.

He also stated that a committee needs to be formed comprising concerned officials and stakeholders to look into the matter. He assured to take the necessary measures for the ease and convenience of the affected people of the area.