LEH: The creation of the new five districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh will mark a historic step towards decentralised governance, equitable development and administrative justice for the people living in far-flung and border areas of the region.
The long-awaited creation of the new five districts is expected to bring governance closer to the people, improve access to essential services, and address long-standing developmental imbalances in Ladakh’s unique and challenging terrain.
This was stated by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, while interacting with a delegation led by Councillor Cha, Stanzin Lakpa, which called on him here at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat.
During the meeting, the delegation expressed its gratitude to the Union Territory Administration for announcing the creation of five new districts—Changthang, Zanskar, Nubra, Sham and Drass. At the same time, the delegation strongly urged the administration to ensure the formal notification and early operationalisation of these districts in a time-bound manner so that the people may start receiving tangible administrative and developmental benefits.
The delegation highlighted that the people of these regions face severe hardships due to vast distances, harsh climatic conditions and limited administrative outreach. They emphasised that the establishment of full-fledged districts would strengthen grassroots governance, improve the delivery of public services, enhance disaster response mechanisms, and promote inclusive growth while safeguarding Ladakh’s unique cultural and ecological identity.
Giving a patient hearing to the issues raised by the delegation, the Lt Governor said that the UT Administration is fully committed to fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Ladakh. He stated that necessary steps are being taken to put in place the required administrative, infrastructural and human resource frameworks for the smooth implementation of the new districts.
Kavinder Gupta said that the Central Government, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is fully committed to the holistic development of the Union Territory of Ladakh and is keenly sensitive to the aspirations of its people, especially those residing in remote and border areas. The decision to create five new districts reflects the Central Government’s resolve to strengthen decentralised administration, improve service delivery, and ensure equitable and inclusive development while safeguarding Ladakh’s unique cultural, social and ecological identity, he added.
Kavinder Gupta further reiterated that the creation of new districts is aimed at empowering local communities, ensuring balanced regional development and strengthening border area administration. He emphasized that stakeholder consultations would continue to ensure that the transition is people-centric and responsive to local needs.
Meanwhile, a delegation from the Ladakh Ice Skating Association also met with the Lt Governor and requested the creation of 400-metre long-track ice skating facilities in Leh and Kargil, permission to use the NDS Indoor Stadium ice rink to prepare for the upcoming Khelo India Winter Games and inclusion of figure and speed skating in the upcoming LG Ice Hockey Championship.
Similarly, a delegation from Aryan Valley requested for renaming of their language from “Brokskat” to “Dadri-Arya,” with its inclusion among Ladakh’s state languages.
A delegation from Bogdang called on Lt Governor and requested blacktopping of the Bogdang Nullah link road and upgradation of the Army Goodwill School with over 300 students.
Another group of aspirants sought notification of vacant posts in the Archaeology/Archives Department to enable local recruitment.
A delegation from Zanskar, led by the former Zanskar Buddhist Association president, called on Lt Governor and requested intervention in the development of tourist amenities and other development requirements in the area.
The Lieutenant Governor assured all delegations that their genuine concerns would be examined with the concerned departments and that efforts would continue to strengthen infrastructure, protect languages and culture, and expand opportunities for Ladakh’s youth and sportspersons.
