What do the Centre’s steps mean for Ladakh?, Pg15

Key Highlights:

• The Centre introduced a 32-page draft proposal for Ladakh and announced Sankoo as the eighth district on October 15 and 16.
• The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) rejected the draft, citing its failure to address demands for a legislative assembly and constitutional safeguards under Article 371.
• Another group, the Civil Society Forum of Ladakh, welcomed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) roadmap, leading to internal friction.
• Ladakh has been witnessing protests since its formation as a Union Territory (UT) in 2019, demanding Statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Ladakh Governance.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• Ladakh was carved out as a Union Territory from the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 and currently operates without a legislature.
• In 2023, the MHA constituted a High-Powered Committee (HPC) under Nityanand Rai to protect Ladakh's unique culture, language, land, employment, and empower Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs).
• Talks in May 2026 indicated the Centre's promise of a "customised model of governance" with a UT-level elected body possessing executive, financial, and legislative powers, along with Article 371 safeguards.
• The LAB and KDA criticized the MHA's latest draft as a "North-East Frontier Agency-type arrangement," which they believe falls short of a UT with a legislature and concentrates substantial power with the Lieutenant Governor.
• The creation of six new districts in 2026, including Sankoo, Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass, aims to improve administrative access and local representation.
• These new districts are expected to lead to the formation of additional hill councils, allowing locals to elect 26 members for each, enhancing participatory governance.
• The administration is also pushing for a three-tier representation system through elections for panchayats, municipalities, and hill councils to empower local representatives.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Union Territory (UT): An administrative division in India directly governed by the Central Government.
• Sixth Schedule: A provision in the Constitution of India that allows for the formation of autonomous administrative divisions in certain tribal areas.
• Article 371: Special provisions granted to certain states in India, allowing for unique governance arrangements to protect their distinct cultural and economic interests.
• Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs): Local self-governing bodies in Ladakh responsible for local administration and development.