Leh: The Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, today chaired an interactive meeting with young achievers from across the region in Leh and virtually from Kargil.
The interaction brought together a diverse group of innovators, entrepreneurs, and change-makers representing sectors such as sustainable tourism, handicrafts, pashmina production, waste management and recycling, renewable energy, agriculture, film-making, urban planning, hospitality, and social entrepreneurship.
Participants included founders of local enterprises, NGOs, charitable organisations, creative studios, travel companies, and independent artists, all of whom have been contributing significantly to Ladakh’s socio-economic and cultural landscape. The meeting served as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and idea exchange between the administration and emerging leaders of the region.
During the session, the Secretary of Higher Education, Ms Bhanu Prabha, appreciated the achievements and voluntary contributions of these young leaders, particularly their involvement in school orientation programs and educational development. She emphasized the importance of sustained engagement and requested the Chief Secretary to facilitate the institutionalisation of such a forum to ensure long-term collaboration and structured support.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Secretary highlighted that the primary objective of forming this forum is to broaden perspectives, encourage innovation, and harness the collective potential of Ladakh’s youth. He described the initiative as a “Young Leaders Forum” aimed at fostering unity, collaboration, and a shared vision for the Union Territory’s development.
He stressed the need to strengthen Ladakh’s tourism sector, which remains a key source of livelihood for its people. Emphasising the global uniqueness of Ladakh, he underscored the importance of creating an integrated, AI-driven tourism portal that provides comprehensive information to visitors, similar to advanced global destinations. Such a platform, he noted, would showcase cultural heritage, travel experiences, and local enterprises while enabling achievers to contribute their ideas and insights.
The Chief Secretary also called upon the participants to take on mentorship roles for aspiring youth, encouraging entrepreneurship over conventional dependence on government employment. He highlighted the power of inspiration, peer learning, and collaboration, stating that local achievers possess deeper understanding of the region and can drive meaningful change in partnership with the administration.
The vision includes developing integrated tourism packages, standardizing services, and building a robust regulatory and support framework.
The Chief Secretary also stressed the importance of leveraging financial resources, technology, and skill development to address challenges effectively. He encouraged participants to adopt a collective spirit, think from a local perspective, and contribute to designing a comprehensive development roadmap for Ladakh.
During the interaction, the achievers shared their experiences and raised concerns related to funding constraints, lack of awareness, educational gaps, and operational challenges in running startups and organizations. Issues related to tourism infrastructure and sectoral development were also discussed in detail.
