LEH : Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur, convened a meeting to review employment generation opportunities in Ladakh, at Raj Niwas today. Advisor Umang Narula; Principal Secretary, Dr Pawan Kotwal; Commissioner/Secretary, Saugat Biswas; Commissioner/Secretary, Padma Angmo and Secretary Ravinder Kumar attended the meeting.
LG Mathur suggested three areas, including irrigation on a large scale, telecommunication and entrepreneurial possibilities that need focus. He stated that carrying out irrigation on a large scale using techniques such as solar-lift can generate additional income.
LG Mathur suggested that improving telecommunications would enable the Administration to become more accessible to the people. He also asked Commissioner/Secretary IT to chalk out a comprehensive plan and set a deadline for concerned authorities such as the Department of Telecommunications, telecom operators, etc. to prepare a blueprint for providing 4G connectivity in all parts of Ladakh.
LG Mathur further suggested that suitable business models may be explored to make the wool-based initiative a pan-Ladakh project to enable women’s self-help groups (SHGs) in rural areas to generate income. He also suggested that business models may be explored for food processing at a household level.
LG Mathur emphasised on the need to make greenhouse a major activity in this financial year. He suggested that the availability of a water source and composting pit should be made compulsory for the people interested in setting up greenhouses at a household level. He also suggested introducing vertical farming and plantation of mushrooms in greenhouses for more income. G Mathur suggested that commercial greenhouses units may be set up and converged with National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) to enable the generation of more job opportunities and income for the people of Ladakh.
He directed that all the SHGs should be registered on Government e-Market (GeM) and also as Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) units to enable them to avail of the benefits of the central govt schemes.
LG Mathur stressed on the need to conduct pilot projects on medicinal plants, floriculture and fodder to explore the best possible model and its replication in other parts of Ladakh. He highlighted fisheries as one of the most productive industries for income generation in Ladakh. He suggested that homestay establishments in rural areas in Ladakh may be given a further push.
