On Monday, Nityanand Rai, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, emphasized that the government is dedicated to accelerating.

It was the first formal discussion on Ladakh with the High Powered Committee (HPC) of the Center. The committee was established by the Ministry of Home Affairs to address the problems and worries of the region’s citizens following more than three years of protests in the area and more than ten months of discussions. Ladakh’s development and fulfilling the demands of the residents.

Representatives from the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Apex Body Leh (ABL) raised issues during the 90-minute meeting, presenting a four-point agenda that had been prepared beforehand.

The two groups leading the Ladakh movement have called for talks on issues such as statehood for the region, protections under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, job reservations for Ladakh’s youth, and the establishment of distinct parliamentary constituencies for the two regions of the region, Leh and Kargil.

The HPC for Ladakh

“Due to this historic step in the formation of the Union Territory, governance and thereby developments have been brought closer to the people of Ladakh,” stated Union Minister Nityanand Rai.

Rai made his remarks during a High Powered Committee (HPC) meeting that he chaired in Delhi.

Furthermore, he stated that several projects have been carried out at a far quicker rate, such as expanding the UT’s budgetary allotment, funding the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils, guaranteeing complete connectivity, building new helipads, and developing infrastructure like mobile networks and roads.

“We have urged the Center not to delay action on our demands further,” the HPC said during its inaugural meeting. Four years have passed since our agitations started. Among other things, they have talked to us about council empowerment.

Restoring the council’s numerous lost powers won’t, however, be considered empowerment as there were many other powers taken away. The vice-president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, Chherring Dorje, reported to The Indian Express, “We informed the Union minister of this.”

The HPC is responsible for safeguarding jobs and land, as well as implementing policies that promote inclusive growth and job creation in the area.

Among the other duties of the HPC are measures pertaining to the empowerment of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) of Leh and Kargil, as well as potential constitutional protections that could guarantee the measures and protection.

In addition, many in attendance requested that a Ladakh Resident Certificate be created in the same manner as the Permanent Resident Certificates (PRC) that were given out in the former state of J&K. The two groups have been asked by the administration to stop their protests both inside and outside the area.

Members also called for the establishment of a Public Service Commission for Ladakh, citing the fact that the region’s separation has denied its residents access to jobs in J&K.

January’2021; 10 member delegation of Ladakh met the Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah

In January’21, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah was welcomed by a delegation of ten representatives from Ladakh.

All of the representatives voiced concern about the preservation of it’s language, culture, and land, the involvement of its residents in its development, the preservation of jobs, and changes in the region’s demographics in light of the region’s challenging geographic circumstances and strategic significance. Prior to the LAHDC elections, there was also a protest in this regard.

It was decided in the meeting that a committee will be formed under the direction of Sh. G.Kishan Reddy, MoS (Home) in order to provide an appropriate solution to the challenges relating to it’s language, culture, and land conservation.

Members of the delegation that met with the Hon. Home Minister, elected members of the LAHDC Council, and ex-officio members who represent the Indian government and the Ladakh administration will make up the committee.

Ladakh as a Union Territory

Ladakh is a union territory of India that is situated close to the westernmost Himalayan mountain ranges and the Karakoram in the northern section of the Indian subcontinent. Its southern boundary is Himachal Pradesh; its northern boundary is contested with China; and its western boundary is restricted by Jammu and Kashmir union territory.

From 1947 until 2019, it was governed as a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir; after that, it became an independent administrative entity.

After India’s 1947 partition, China, Pakistan, and India fought over who should rule the Ladakh Peninsula. Jammu and Kashmir state was formed by incorporating the region governed by India into the Indian union.

Two districts, Leh and Kargil, were created out of the Ladakh district in 1979. Later, in 2019, the Indian government established the Ladakh union territory, built on these two districts.