New reservation, domicile policies for Ladakh offer hope

THE Centre has announced new reservation and domicile policies for Ladakh, India’s youngest Union Territory (UT), reserving 85 per cent of the jobs for locals in the largely tribal region that relies on tourism to stay afloat. This is a significant win for Ladakhi activists, particularly representatives of the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, even as the bigger issues of statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution are far from resolved.Ladakh was carved out of Jammu & Kashmir as a UT without a legislature when Article 370 and Article 35A were abrogated on August 5, 2019. The initial euphoria over being accorded a separate place in the Union of India was followed by a clamour for constitutional safeguards to protect residents’ land, livelihood, language and culture. There have been protests in recent years despite the Centre’s assurance that it is committed to fast-tracking the UT’s development and meeting the people’s aspirations. In a confidence-building measure, five districts were created last year, taking the total number to seven. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has been at the forefront of the agitation for granting Sixth Schedule status to Ladakh. As of now, the Schedule, which is aimed at protecting the interests of tribal populations through autonomous governance, caters to Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem makes it vital to empower indigenous communities for ensuring democratic decision-making and sustainable development. Its economy is also facing hardships, with the tourist footfall suffering a sharp drop after the Pahalgam terror attack. Located at a considerable distance from Kashmir, the stunningly beautiful region is safe and peaceful, but cautious travellers are taking no chances. Adequate decentralisation of power can help Ladakh cope with the diverse challenges. For that, the Centre must address the main Ladakhi demands on priority and take an unequivocal stand.

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