Ladakh: People's movement to demand Complete Statehood

Ladakh: People's movement to demand Complete Statehood

GS-II: Indian Polity

(UPSC/ State PSCs)

Important for Prelims

About Ladakh, 6th Schedule, Article 244, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), Bardoli Committee, Major Scheduled Tribes of Ladakh.

Important for Mains

Causes of mass movement in Ladakh, Historical background of Ladakh, Significance, Conclusion.

Feb. 09, 2024

Why in news:

Recently, thousands of people braved the harsh cold and started a mass movement on the cold streets of Leh, demanding full statehood for Ladakh and security under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.

  • Objectives of the mass movement: To give full statehood to Ladakh, to implement the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and to create separate parliamentary seats for Leh-Kargil districts.
  • The main leading organizations of this mass movement are- Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).

Cause of mass movement:

  • It is a tribal dominated area and has all the characteristics that the North Eastern states have. Furthermore, we demand implementation of the provisions of the 6th Schedule in Ladakh to protect its culture on the lines of the North-Eastern States.
  • Demand for representation in the Assembly: According to the protesters, since Ladakh became a Union Territory (August 2019), the representation, powers and rights of the people of Ladakh have declined to a great extent.
    • Earlier, when Ladakh was part of Jammu and Kashmir, the region had four members in the Assembly and two in the Legislative Council, thereby ensuring adequate representation.
    • For this, Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) has demanded a four-point agenda.
  • Demand for Recruitment Commission: Non-fulfillment of demand for formation of Public Service Commission in Ladakh for huge increase in gazetted job opportunities. Ladakh urgently needs a Public Service Commission of its own.
  • Demand for full statehood: According to the protesters, Ladakh is a very strategically important region and hence it should get the status of a full state.

Central Government's response:

  • The central government has constituted a high-level committee under the leadership of Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai to protect the unique culture and language of Ladakh.

NCST's recommendation to include Ladakh in the 6th Schedule:

  • The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) on 11 September 2019 had recommended the inclusion of the Union Territory of Ladakh in the 6th Schedule to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
  • The Commission believed that this would help in fulfilling the aspirations of 97 percent of the tribal population residing in the Ladakh region.
  • Major Scheduled Tribes of Ladakh: Balti, Beda, Bot, Boto, Brokpa, Drokpa, Dard, Shin, Changpa, Garra, Mon, Purigpa.

About Sixth Schedule:

  • This schedule is mentioned in Article 244 of Chapter 10 of the Indian Constitution.
  • This schedule was added to the Indian Constitution on the recommendation of the Bardoli Committee.
  • The provisions of this Schedule apply to the administration of the tribal areas of the four North-Eastern States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and the State of Mizoram.
  • Administrative activities in these autonomous regions are under the control of the authority of the Governor.

About Ladakh:

  • Extending over 95,876 sq km, Ladakh is a union territory.
  • After the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Ladakh was separated from Jammu and Kashmir and became a union territory.
  • It is also known as the “Land of Passes” (La-Darra, Dakh-Bhoomi).

Historical Background of Ladakh:

  • Ladakh was an independent state from 950 AD to the year 1834, after which it was ruled by the Hindu Dogras.
  • After the year 1819, Sikh Emperor Ranjit Singh tried to conquer Ladakh, but Dogra feudal lord Gulab Singh re-established control over Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Ladakh was invaded by Tibet in May 1841, resulting in the Chinese-Sikh War. This war ended by the Treaty of Chushul.
  • The state of Jammu and Kashmir, including Ladakh, was under British occupation after the Anglo-Sikh War of 1845–46.

Geographical location and Climate:

  • It is bordered by the Chinese Tibet Autonomous Region to the east, the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh to the south, and Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan to the west, and the Karakoram Pass to the north, just off the southwest corner of Xinjiang.
  • The region around Ladakh is drained by the Indus River and its major tributaries – the Shyok-Nubra, Chang Chenmo, Hanle, Zanskar, and Suru rivers.
  • It is one of the highest and driest places on Earth and has a very harsh climate.

Significance of Ladakh:

Natural significance:

  • Ladakh provides water resources from the Indus water system to Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan in India and the Punjab province of Pakistan. Therefore, Ladakh is important not only for the livelihood of Ladakh and the ecosystem of Ladakh but also for the health of the entire river system.
  • Ladakh has relatively high annual solar radiation with high insulation and geothermal resources.
  • Ladakh is in a better position than the North-Eastern states from the point of view of tourism industry and connectivity.

Geopolitical significance:

  • Ladakh has been able to play an important role in the development of culture, religion, philosophy, trade and commerce since ancient times along with Central Asian countries - Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
  • The Ladakh (Siachen and Aksai Chin) region has been a focal point of conflict for India, China and Pakistan due to the presence of abundant resources and political dominance.

Conclusion:

  • At present, the issue of Ladakh is very sensitive politically and strategically. Efforts are underway to address the social, economic, cultural and political issues of Ladakh by a 17-member committee constituted by the Union Home Ministry, which promised "constitutional safeguards" for the Union Territory. However, no significant success has been achieved in this, for this there is a need to take quick and effective steps.

Source: Times of India

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Mains Question:

Underlining the historical background and importance of Ladakh, examine the appropriateness of the demands of the ongoing people's movement in this Union Territory.