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Mahesh

15/02/24 04:38 AM IST

Protest in ladakh

In News
  • Thousands of people returned to the streets in Leh over the weekend in sub-zero temperatures to reiterate their demand for full statehood for the Union Territory of Ladakh and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to protect the region’s land, culture, language and environment.
Demands of people
  • The growing resentment can be traced to August 2019 when the abrogation of Article 370 repealed the special status of the erstwhile State of J&K.
  • Ladakh, which was then one of three divisions of J&K, was established as a UT without a legislature, unlike J&K. Ladakh had been represented by four members in the J&K Assembly and two in the Legislative Council before the abrogation.
  • The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil, formed to administer the region, also have limited powers.
  • The LAB and KDA have demanded the government extend Ladakh’s territorial control up to Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and demanded reservation of seats for the area.
  • In a memorandum to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the alliance reiterated that Statehood will ensure stability in the region and highlighted the geopolitical importance of Ladakh to counter the twin threat of China and Pakistan.
  • It pointed out that empowering the locals will foster stability, noting that their understanding of the harsh terrain and the geography has proved helpful in the military and logistic operations.
  • The other demand, for constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule, has served as a major rallying point, with the LAB and KDA urging the government to grant special status to Ladakh on the lines of Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim and other northeastern States.
  • The Schedule protects tribal populations and provides autonomy to the communities through autonomous development councils.
  • The councils are empowered to legislate on issues of land, agriculture, forests, village administration, inheritance of property, public health, marriage and divorce, etc.
  • This assumes significance considering nearly 80% of Ladakh’s total population of 2.74 lakh are tribals. Mr. Wangchuk says the Schedule will ensure that the local population is consulted on decisions that impact them.
  • Adding to the unrest is rising employment in the region. The UT recorded a sharp rise in the number of unemployed graduates between 2021-22 and 2022-23.
  • A government survey last year pointed out that 26.5% of graduates in Ladakh are unemployed.
Govt. Response
  • The government has not shown keen interest in granting full Statehood and special status to Ladakh, but rising discontent in the region and a wave of protests forced the Centre to set up a committee in January 2023 to probe the matter.
  • The Ministry of Home Affairs claimed that the UT administration was already taking care of overall socio-economic development, and sufficient funds have been provided for the region’s overall development.
  • However, amid rising unrest in the region, the government set up the panel and assured protesters that it would look for an appropriate solution to issues related to language, culture and land.
  • The panel was reconstituted following a disagreement over its composition and agenda.
  • The high-powered committee held its first meeting in December, after it was empowered to examine the demand for constitutional safeguards for the region.
  • Nothing significant has come out of the dialogue so far, anxious Ladakhis took the streets again earlier this month. “People have become very restless after nothing materialised despite a series of talks.
Source- The Hindu

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