Ladakh gains five new districts, climate activist thanks government

In a significant development for the region, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the creation of five new districts in Ladakh on Monday, increasing the total number to seven.

This decision, which has been welcomed by the local populace, fulfills a long-standing demand and is seen as a step towards enhancing governance in the region. This move aims to bring government services closer to the people, ensuring better access and administrative efficiency in these remote areas.

The newly established districts are Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang.

The announcement was made by Amit Shah in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of fostering development and prosperity in Ladakh. "The creation of these new districts will ensure that the benefits meant for the people reach their doorsteps, bolstering governance in every corner," Shah stated in a post on X.

Previously, Ladakh, which became a Union Territory following the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019, had only two districts: Leh and Kargil. Covering an expanse of 86,904 square kilometers and sharing borders with China and Pakistan, Ladakh has a population of approximately 2.74 lakh, according to the 2011 census.

Prime Minister Modi praised the creation of the new districts, highlighting that this would lead to better governance and greater prosperity for the region. "Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang will now receive more focused attention, bringing services and opportunities even closer to the people," he said.

Former BJP MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal referred to the announcement as a 'Janmashtami gift' for the people of Ladakh. He recalled the BJP's efforts in securing separate divisional status for Ladakh in 2018 and the subsequent fulfillment of the demand for Union Territory status in 2019.

Sonam Wangchuk, a climate activist and member of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), expressed gratitude for the decision, particularly for the Zanskar region. However, he emphasized that while the creation of these districts aligns with BJP's promises, the primary demand for constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule remains unaddressed. Wangchuk warned that the local struggle for these safeguards would continue.

The Leh Apex Body, along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has been advocating for four key demands, including the granting of statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to Ladakh. Despite welcoming the creation of new districts, they remain committed to their ongoing peaceful struggle for these demands.

Nawang Rigzin Jora, president of the Ladakh unit of the Congress, also welcomed the decision but stressed that merely creating administrative districts would not suffice to protect the environment, culture, and identity of the Ladakhi people. He reiterated the demand for statehood and democratically elected autonomous councils for the new districts.

LAB co-chairman Chering Dorje Lakrook supported the government's decision, noting that it would significantly benefit people living in remote areas by providing better access to government services. However, he clarified that the creation of new districts was not part of LAB and KDA's demands, and their planned march from Leh to Delhi, set to begin on September 1, would proceed as planned.