New Delhi: The central government has proposed a 95 per cent reservation for local Ladakhis for gazetted officer posts within the Union Territory of Ladakh. This decision follows a meeting between representatives from the Leh Apex Body (LAB), the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Union Minister Nityanand Rai.
MP Mohammad Hanifa, present at the meeting, confirmed the agreement, emphasising the positive response to the long-standing demands of the Ladakhi people. “This is good news for the people of Ladakh. People were expecting some good news from this meeting and now their prayers have been heard. The Ministry of Home Affairs has agreed to reserve 95 per cent of the jobs of gazetted officers for locals,” Hanifa said.
The agreement regarding the 95 per cent reservation for gazetted officer positions is seen as a significant step towards addressing the concerns of the local population. However, it’s crucial to note that this is only one part of a broader set of demands presented by the LAB and KDA. Further discussions are scheduled for January 15th, 2024, to address the remaining issues. The meeting came after the Centre assured Ladakhi activists led by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had led a protest in Delhi after leading the march from Ladakh, to consider their demands.
The key demands put forth by these organisations include:
Statehood for Ladakh: This is a primary and long-standing demand, seeking greater autonomy and political representation for the region. Before 2019, Ladakh was part of Jammu and Kashmir and had four representatives in the state assembly. The revocation of Article 370 and the subsequent reorganisation into Union Territories took away the assembly in the UT.
Inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution: This would grant Ladakh special status and protections for its unique culture and traditions, similar to those afforded to certain tribal areas in Northeast India.
Establishment of a Special Public Service Commission: This would ensure that recruitment processes for government jobs specifically cater to the needs and qualifications of the local population.
