Ladakh MP seeks L-G’s help to get spl package from Centre for crop loss

Ladakh Member of Parliament Haji Mohd Hanifa Jan called on Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier BD Mishra (retd), at Raj Niwas to raise several local issues.

Principal Secretary Sanjeev Khirwar and Secretary Education Bhanu Prabha were present during the meeting.

During the meeting, the Ladakh MP sought the L-G’s intervention in securing a special package from the central government to compensate apricot farmers for losses suffered during the recent unseasonal snowfall. The L-G assured that he would take up the issue with the ministry concerned and also advised the MP to follow up on the matter.

Additionally, the MP raised various concerns, including the establishment of an agriculture and horticulture research centre in Kargil; the need for AYUSH Medical Officer posts; the need to release pending payments for higher secondary school buildings constructed as per CBSE norms and the need for Arabic teachers’ post in Kargil under Samagra Shiksha for which funding from the Union Ministry is required.

A request was also made regarding the inclusion of Eid-e-Ghadeer and Chehlum (Youm-e-Arbaeen) in the list of local holidays of UT Ladakh for Leh district, on the lines of Kargil district, keeping the sentiments of the Shia community of Leh district in mind.

The L-G stated that the General Administration Department (GAD), which determines the public holiday list per central guidelines, would examine the matter and take an appropriate decision.

The Ladakh MP further raised concerns over the admission of Ladakhi students to SKUAST Kashmir, highlighting that many eligible students were unable to secure admission under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservation. He sought intervention from L-G to address this issue so that seats for Ladakhi students could be reserved for at least a few more years.

In response, the L-G advised the MP to submit a formal draft, which would be examined and taken up with the department concerned in Jammu and Kashmir.

Furthermore, Hanifa Jan requested early recruitment of faculty in Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and urged swift completion of the takeover of SKUAST units in Ladakh by the University of Ladakh.