Ladakh groups seek 80% job reservation for STs, 10% EWS

The Ladakh groups, including Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), discussed the modalities for reserving 95 per cent jobs in the Union Territory for locals. The discussions were held during a meeting on Wednesday evening.

A sub-committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for discussion on the Sixth Schedule and statehood for UT, among other demands, met senior officials of the ministry last evening during which discussions on many issues were held. During the last meeting in December last year, the Centre had promised to reserve 95 per cent jobs for locals in Ladakh.

Sajjad Kargili, an activist who is a member of KDA and was part of delegation that met the MHA officials, informed that it was agreed that 95 per cent jobs would be reserved for locals. It will include 80 per cent for STs, four per cent for the residents of Actual Line of Control (ALC), 10 per cent for economically weaker sections (EWS) and one per cent for SCs.

He said that the Ladakh groups agreed that five per cent jobs be left open (non-STs) but they should be given to those who are living in the UT for the past 15 years and are domicile of Ladakh. Kargili said that the officials were urged to issue a notification soon so that the reservation could be brought into force.

The KDA and LAB also discussed the issue of recruitment of gazetted and non-gazetted posts in Ladakh. A decision was taken that all pending gazetted cadre recruitment would be done by the UPSC and a decision would be taken later whether the UT will have its own Public Service Commission (PSC) or will affiliate with J&K PSC.

Surprisingly, no gazetted posts have been filled in Ladakh since it separated from J&K and became a separate UT in 2019 in absence of a PSC.

The meeting of Ladakh groups with MHA officials will be held again on February 15.

The meeting was attended by Adviser to LG of Ladakh, Pawan Kotwal, Member Parliament, Mohammad Haneefa Jan, Chairman of Leh and Kargil Hill Development Councils Tashi Gyalson and Zaffar Akhoon respectively. The six members of LAB and KDA who attended the meeting included Thupstan Chhewang, Chering Dorjay Lakruk and Nawang Rigzin Jora from LAB and Qamar Ali Akhoon, Haji Asgar Ali Karbalai and Sajjad Kargili from KDA.