Raise Ladakhi women Army battalion, says LAHDC

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 23

The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, has asked Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to raise a Ladakhi women Army battalion in view of strategic importance of the Ladakh region.

The demand was put forth by the Chief Executive Officer, LAHDC, Leh, Rigzin Spalbar, to the Defence Minister during his visit to Ladakh on Friday. The LAHDC submitted a draft of the memorandum to Parrikar.

“In view of the strategic importance of the Ladakh region, we endeavour to be equal partners in the defence of our borders,” Rigzin Spalbar said.

In Ladakh, troops of the Northern Command are responsible for guarding the Line of Control (LoC) and sensitive Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, where frequent incursions by Chinese troops have become a cause of concern for the country.

Asking the Union minister for raising a Ladakhi women Army battalion, the CEC said there was a severe unemployment among the educated women in the district and hardly any employment avenues available to them.

“Ladakhi women are sturdy and well adapted to the harshness of the high-altitude environs and full of thrill and pride of serving the motherland. Given the strategic importance of the area and the extreme climatic conditions, the Ladakhi women battalion could, beyond doubt, prove skilled mountain warriors and contribute immensely in guarding the volatile boarders.

Therefore, a battalion be raised either with the Ladakh Scouts of the Indian Army or ITBP,” the memorandum submitted by the CEO to the Defence Minister said.