‘Unbiased representation of Kargil, Leh must for prosperity of Ladakh’

KARGIL: Ladakh, the region was granted the status of a Union Territory in 2019. The decision to bifurcate the state into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, was aimed at bringing development and prosperity to the region.

However, the administration of Ladakh has been facing several challenges and loopholes, lack of representation and misrepresentation which need to be addressed for the overall development of the region.

Apart from the aforementioned, one of the major loopholes in the administration of Ladakh UT is the lack of adequate infrastructure in diverse sectors. Ladakh is a remote and mountainous region, and the harsh terrain makes it difficult to build roads and other infrastructure. As a result, the region is still largely underdeveloped, and basic amenities like healthcare, education, and transportation are not easily accessible to the people, said a social activist, and added that this has led to a sense of neglect and deprivation among the people of Ladakh, and Kargil in particular.

Further adding that they do face the lack of adequate resources in the UT as the region is largely dependent on tourism and agriculture, and the government has not been able to provide adequate support to these sectors. The lack of irrigation facilities and modern farming techniques has made it difficult for farmers to make a decent living.

A political activist said that the lack of political representation is another major issue faced by the people of Ladakh. The region is largely inhabited by the people, who have a distinct culture and language. And the administrative officials need to understand the local issues and problems. “There is a dire need to stop alienation among the people of Ladakh, who feel that their voices are not being heard besides there has to be transparency, accountability and equal representation and benefits by the administration.”

Even the twin districts of Leh and Kargil are smelling discrimination in multiple stands.

The Ladakh UT is hosting G20 Meeting, and under the respective aegis, Y20 Pre summit is being held in Leh district of the region, leaving neglected the Kargil district. One of the social and political activists said that the sad part is that the Kargil administration and LAHDC Kargil seem invisible from the event.

“Is the UT administration responsible for ignoring the Kargil district and its representatives LAHDCK or its Kargil admin and the council’s own decision to skip the event?,” read a post on social media handle.

The user added that whatever the reason, keeping Kargil away from such an international event is an injustice to the people of Kargil. Can Ladakh be represented without Kargil?

However, clearing the mist, DC Kargil Santosh Sukhadeve, taking to social media Twitter handle said, “No one has ignored Kargil. Invites were sent to LAHDC-K, but all the Councillors of LAHDC Kargil said they don’t wish to participate.”

The administration of Ladakh needs to address issues for the overall development of the region. The government needs to take a holistic approach and work towards creating a conducive environment for the development of the region. This would require a sustained effort over a long period of time, but it is necessary for the well-being and prosperity of the people of Ladakh, said another Kargil resident.