The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday decided to create five new districts in Ladakh. Informing about this decision in a post on the microblogging site ‘X’, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said that with this decision, the new districts – Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang – will take the benefits meant for the people to their doorsteps by bolstering governance in every nook and cranny.
“After the formation of these five districts, there will now be a total of seven districts in Ladakh, including Leh and Kargil,” he said. Shah said that the creation of five new districts was a historic step towards fulfilling PM Modi’s vision of building a new Ladakh.
He said that PM Modi-led government at the Centre was fully committed to creating immense possibilities for the people of Ladakh. “This step will pave the way for people-led governance in the union territory, allowing seepage of democratic processes to the roots,” Shah said.
He said that the Modi government was committed to creating immense possibilities for the people of Ladakh. Along with giving “in-principle approval” for the formation of five new districts, the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the Ladakh administration to form a committee to assess various aspects related to the formation of new districts like headquarters, boundaries, structure, creation of posts, any other aspect related to the formation of the district and submit its report within three months.
After receiving the report of the committee, Ladakh UT will send the final proposal regarding the creation of new districts based on this report to the Home Ministry for further action. Ladakh is a very large union territory in terms of area, and, at present, Ladakh has two districts – Leh and Kargil.
It is one of the least populated areas of India. Being extremely difficult and inaccessible, at present the district administration is facing many difficulties in reaching the grassroots level.
After the formation of these districts, now all the public welfare schemes of the Centre and Ladakh administration will be able to reach the people easily and more and more people will be able to take advantage of them. This important decision of MHA will prove to be very useful in the all-round development of Ladakh.
Meanwhile, a spokesman of the Ministry of Home Affairs in a statement issued here said that in pursuit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to build a developed and prosperous Ladakh, the Ministry of Home Affairs had decided to create five new districts in the Union Territory.
The people in Ladakh Monday welcomed the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs to create five new districts in the Union Territory but said that they would continue their struggle for the restoration of statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.
The Leh Apex Body (LAB), which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) is fighting for their four major demands including granting of statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, said they would continue their peaceful struggle.
They also announced to start foot march from Leh to Delhi beginning September 1 in support of their four demands. Noted environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is leading the major movement for the safeguarding of the people of Ladakh, has welcomed the decision.
He said that in 2019 the people of Zanskar were promised that they would be given a district and it had finally been done. “The response to the decision will be known only after it is clear if the new districts are administrative districts or autonomous districts which will have elected council as happens under the Sixth Schedule areas,” Wangchuk said in a video that he posted on microblogging site X.
“If these districts are part of the districts that fall under the Sixth Schedule, then it is a welcome development. If these districts do not fall under the Sixth Schedule, then our movement for these rights will continue.” Wangchuk said.
He said that the people were happy when Ladakh was declared a Union Territory but it created a crisis when it lacked assembly and the Sixth Schedule was not extended.
Prominent socio-political activist from Kargil, Sajad Kargili said, “We welcome the decision taken by the Centre. However, I appeal for an amendment to include the Suru Valley region as a district as well. Not giving district status to the Sankoo Suru region is an injustice towards the people of that region,” Kargili, who is part of the LAB said in a post on X. “Moreover, it is also important to clarify whether these new districts will be fully functional with all powers and responsibilities, or if they will resemble the sub-divisions created earlier, where powers have not been transferred to them till today.
“The creation of new districts can be truly beneficial if accompanied by the establishment of an assembly and further democratic processes. Without this, there is a risk of adding bureaucratic layers in Ladakh instead of enhancing democratic governance.”
Bhartiya Janata Party’s Ladakh unit including CEC LAHDC Leh Tashi Gyalson, former Member of Parliament Tsering Namgyal, and other leaders also welcomed the Centre’s decision.
