Ladakh welcomes new districts, but protests for 6th Schedule to continue

Jammu, August 26

The Central government’s announcement of five new districts in Ladakh has been welcomed by local leaders, who nonetheless insist on their demand for the region’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule. Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the creation of five new districts: Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang. This move addresses the long-standing demand of locals in these regions, who faced challenges due to the distant location of district headquarters. Currently, Ladakh has only two districts: Leh and Kargil.

The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), who have been protesting for over two years for their four-point agenda, including statehood, Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, a Public Service Commission, and two Lok Sabha seats for the UT (currently, there is only one), also welcomed the decision. Chering Dorjay Lakrook, a member of LAB, stated that while the body welcomes the creation of new districts, their protests for the four-point agenda will continue. “The creation of districts was a demand of the people in these regions. However, the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule and other demands are for the entire UT.”

LAB and KDA plan to start a ‘Delhi Chalo’ foot march from September 1 to October 2 to press for their four-point agenda. The march will begin in Ladakh and end in New Delhi. Educationist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk, who previously went on a hunger strike in support of the agenda, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. However, he emphasised that district status for these regions will only be beneficial if accompanied by district councils.

“District status was an old demand, especially for the Zanskar region, and there was a promise by the government in 2019 that it would be done. We will be happy only if district councils are also provided in the new administrative units; otherwise, they will have no importance in the absence of democracy,” said Wangchuk.

Leaders from Kargil have also welcomed the decision, with some reservations. Sajjad Kargili, a member of the KDA, said, “We welcome the decision taken by the Union government. However, I appeal for an amendment to include the Suru Valley region as a district as well. Not giving district status to the Sankoo Suru region is an injustice towards the people of that region. Moreover, it is crucial to clarify whether these new districts will be fully functional with all powers and responsibilities or resemble the sub-divisions created earlier, where powers were not transferred to them until today.”