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The central government has taken a big decision for the people of the Union Territory of Ladakh. The government has proposed to give 95% reservation to the local people in government jobs here. Earlier, sources said that two major organizations of Ladakh, Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, met Union Minister Nityanand Rai on Tuesday with many of their demands.
Ladakh MP Mohammad Hanifa, who attended the meeting, said that it has been agreed that 95 percent of the posts of gazetted officers in Ladakh will be reserved for the local people. After the meeting, Hanifa said, “This is a big news for the people of Ladakh. People were expecting some good news from this meeting and now their prayers have been heard. The Home Ministry has agreed to reserve 95 percent of the jobs of gazetted officers for the local people.”
Another meeting will be held next month
Both sides will now discuss the issue of implementation of the agreed points and other demands in the next meeting to be held on January 15 next year. The meeting took place after the Centre assured Ladakhi activists led by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to consider their demands, who had protested in Delhi after leading a march from Ladakh.
Earlier, the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance met Union Minister Nityanand Rai yesterday and discussed several important demands like granting statehood to Ladakh, inclusion of the Union Territory in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and establishment of a special Public Service Commission for the region. The organisations are also demanding two Lok Sabha seats in Ladakh (one for Kargil and one for Leh). At present, there is only one Ladakh Lok Sabha seat here.
Discussion on several demands of Ladakh
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have long been demanding statehood for Ladakh, inclusion of the Union Territory in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and establishment of a special Public Service Commission for the region. Sources said that the High Powered Committee (HPC) constituted by the government for Ladakh, headed by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, discussed their demands with LAB and KDA.
Ladakh was part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir before 2019 and there used to be four representatives from this region in the Assembly. But the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir were abolished on August 5, 2019 and the then special state was divided into 2 union territories (Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh).
According to the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, Jammu and Kashmir was made a Union Territory with an Assembly while Ladakh was made a Union Territory without an Assembly. However, the central government had assured a delegation from Ladakh in December last year that it was committed to rapidly advance the development of the Union Territory and fulfill the aspirations of the people of the region.
Formation of HPC for Ladakh
The Home Ministry constituted the HPC for Ladakh under the leadership of Nityanand Rai to discuss the measures needed to protect the unique culture and language of the region, keeping in mind its geographical location and the strategic importance of the region.
Many organizations of Ladakh had been demanding a separate union territory for the region for a long time, which was fulfilled on August 5 in 2019. However, some time ago LAB and KDA protested at many places regarding many of their important demands. Meanwhile, the Center announced the creation of five new districts in Ladakh in August.
