Amit Shah in Leh for Buddha relics exposition, to unveil dairy initiatives

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday arrived in Leh on a two-day visit, during which he will pay respects to the holy relics of Lord Buddha on the occasion of the 2569th Buddha Purnima.

The sacred Piprahwa relics of Tathagata Buddha arrived in Leh on Wednesday, marking the beginning of a historic spiritual celebration in the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said it was an honour and a pleasure to welcome the Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, Amit Shah, on his arrival in Leh.

“People from all walks of life, dressed in traditional attire, queued up outside the airport to accord a heartfelt welcome to the Home Minister,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

“His visit and vision for the development of Ladakh will motivate us to work towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people,” Saxena added.

Meanwhile, in a step towards strengthening cooperative-led rural development and boosting the dairy sector in Ladakh, the Home Minister will inaugurate a series of key initiatives at a programme to be held at the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS), Leh, on May 1.

Officials said the event will include the inauguration and foundation-laying of multiple dairy infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing milk processing capacity, improving cold-chain systems and expanding market linkages for local dairy farmers.

“The programme will also witness the launch of digital and institutional initiatives designed to modernise cooperative dairy operations in the region,” an official said.

During the event, the Minister will lay the foundation stone of a 10 TLPD dairy plant at Kargil and inaugurate new dairy processing units in Leh, including facilities for curd and paneer production. Additionally, a Bulk Milk Cooler system will be launched to strengthen milk storage and transportation infrastructure.

“Further reinforcing the vision of digital empowerment in the cooperative sector, an Android-based Automated Milk Collection System (AMCS) application will be launched to streamline procurement processes and ensure transparency in payments to farmers,” officials said.

The programme will also feature the flagging off of a mobile milk testing laboratory to ensure quality assurance and support dairy farmers at the grassroots level.

“A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between key stakeholders to enhance the marketing of dairy products under prominent brands, improving market access and value realisation for local producers,” they added.

In line with the Government’s focus on farmer welfare and cooperative strengthening, progressive dairy farmers from the region will be felicitated during the event. The initiative reflects the Government’s commitment to the vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi” by empowering cooperative institutions, enhancing rural livelihoods and promoting inclusive economic growth in remote regions of the country.