Ladakh to have separate committee for cultural preservation of the UT
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Leh, Jan 8: Central Govt recently formed a committee to protect language, land, culture of Ladakh and ensure participation of citizens in the development of Union Territory. The Committee is to be headed by Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy. It will include elected representatives from Ladakh, central government and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development council. The decision of forming the committee came after Union Home Minister Amit Shah met a 10-member delegation from Ladakh.
A ten-member delegation from Ladakh met Home Minister Amit Shah to express their concerns about the threat to the unique culture, language and demography of the region in the development process. Concerns have also been raised about the rights and demand for the inclusion in the sixth schedule. Earlier, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes had recommended the inclusion of Ladakh under the sixth schedule.
The Sixth Schedule has provisions for the administration of tribal areas in the states of Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram. The sixth schedule has provisions for constitution of autonomous districts and councils to frame laws to protect interests of the tribal. The Sixth Schedule was constituted under Article 244.
More than 90 per cent of Ladakh population is tribal. The primary Scheduled Tribes of Ladakh are Bot, Balti Beda, Brokpa, Changpa, Mon, Garra and Purigpa. Including Ladakh in the sixth schedule will help to enhance the transfer of funds for speedy development of the region.
The Home Minister, Amit Shah assured the delegation that the government under PM Modi is entirely committed to the development of the Ladakh region and for protecting its fascinating culture and land. He further added that the central government has shown its commitment by fulfilling the long pending demand of Ladakh’s citizens for granting it the status of the Union territory.