LEH: Cutting across the religious line, a delegation of women from Ladakh called on the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), at Raj Niwas on Tuesday and highlighted the issue of safety and security of women and children in Ladakh.
The delegation comprising members of All Religious Women Association of Ladakh which includes Ladakh Buddhist Association Women Wing, Anjuman Imamia Women Wing and Anjuman Moin-ul Islam Women Wing also flagged the increase in the number of rape and murder cases in Ladakh.
They requested for stringent action against the accused arrested in the recent alleged rape and attempted murder of a minor schoolgirl in Leh and speedy justice to the victim and her family members.
The delegates also emphasised the need for necessary measures for the safety and security of women and girl children in Ladakh such as providing bus services exclusively for females on fixed routes in Leh; installation of street lights; bus stand facilities; proper pavements; proper waiting rooms; construction of public toilets, etc.
A Raj Niwas spokesman said that the delegation requested for the need to ensure the effective functioning of One-Stop Centres in Ladakh and implement anti-conversion law in Ladakh. They also requested not to issue bar licenses for the opening of new wine shops in Leh district.
The delegation also highlighted the issue of growing cases of drug abuse among children and adults in Ladakh. They requested for HLG’s intervention in taking necessary steps to stop drug abuse in Ladakh.
Terming the recent incident of alleged rape and attempted murder of a minor as unfortunate and horrific, LG assured the members of All Religious Women Association of Ladakh that stringent action will be taken against the accused. He also assured of a speedy trial to ensure justice for the victim and family members.
The LG interalia emphasised the need to sensitise young girls to take precautions such as avoiding taking lifts from strangers and also educate them on distancing themselves from perpetrators and seeking help from all possible quarters in emergency cases.
Meanwhile, a delegation from Municipal Committee (MC), Leh led by its President, Dr Ishey Namgyal also met the LG and raised several issues related to MC Leh, including the need to formulate the Municipal Act for the municipalities of UT Ladakh; the need for the upgradation of Municipal Committee Leh and Kargil to Municipal Councils or Municipal Corporations; the need to increase the strength of ward members of Leh town from 13 to 17 due to the population of the town; the need for enhancement of financial powers to both the Municipalities of Ladakh; the need for strengthening both the Municipalities of Leh and Kargil by filling up the vacant posts, empowering them technically, administratively and institutionally and by providing them with a civil engineering division to carry out civil works in Leh town; the need for providing them with Ward Development Fund on the lines of Councillor’s Constituency Development Fund (CCDF) for carrying out various development works in their municipal wards; the need to conduct a survey to check the feasibility of the construction of a tunnel at Khardung-la Pass to divert Shayok River to meet the water demand of the people of Leh town; the need for enhancement of honorarium of the elected municipal ward members; the need for renovation of Leh Nullah along with Changspa Road, etc.
The LG inquired about the direction issued by the J&K and Ladakh High Court to file a response to the public interest litigation (PIL) on the increasing number of dog bite cases in Ladakh and requested for MC Leh’s cooperation in this regard.
The LG also requested MC Leh to continue cleanliness drives in Leh town even after the Youth 20 Pre-Summit to be held in Leh from April 26-28 under the aegis of G20 India Summit for a healthy society. He emphasised the need to create an atmosphere where people and cleanliness go hand in hand. He requested for MC Leh’s cooperation in ensuring a clean and hygienic environment in Leh town.
LG also raised his concerns over the scarcity of drinking water and the need for the promotion and protection of pashmina wool in Ladakh. He informed about the Administration’s plan to conduct studies to address various issues related to the establishment and upgradation of schools, health centres, police stations and administrative set-up with the involvement of concerned stakeholders.
Later in the day, a delegation from Ladakh Research Scholars Forum led by Dr Rinchen Dolma met the LG and requested the need for Administration along with both the Hill Councils to draft Recruitment Rules and notify recruitment to fill the vacant positions in higher education at the earliest.
Dr Rinchen requested for swift and time-bound recruitment to fill academic positions in Ladakh. She also requested for relaxation in the upper age limit for the applicants. Referring to the 77 vacant gazetted posts of constituent colleges in the University of Ladakh, Dr Rinchen requested to make Permanent Residence of Ladakh (PRC) certificate mandatory for recruitment of all vacant academic posts. She informed HLG that Assistant Professors working on contract basis in constituent colleges of the University of Ladakh are not being paid remuneration as per the UGC guidelines. This, she said, renders their teaching experience invalid and also hits their chances of selection in other colleges and universities in other parts of India. Dr Rinchen requested that the Assistant Professors working on contract basis should be paid the basic pay as per the UGC guidelines.
A delegation comprising Male and Female Multipurpose Health Workers from Leh and Kargil working in National Health Mission (NHM) led by Stanzin Chodon and Mohd Hasnain raised several issues related to Multipurpose Health Workers working in National Health Mission (NHM) centres in Leh and Kargil, viz. regularisation of their jobs; ensuring equal pay based on equal work as other NHM employees; providing loyalty bonuses to them; providing education allowance for their children, etc.
The LG assured to look into their matter.
A delegation from the WWF India comprising the Secretary General, Ravi Singh, the COO & Associate Director briefed the LG of their initiatives in wildlife, nature conservation & eco-tourism sectors in Ladakh, whereas a delegation led by President Anjuman Imamia Leh, Ashraf Ali extended an invitation to the LG for attending an Iftar party with their community in Leh on the 9th of April. The LG has accepted the invitation.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Venerable Monks and members of the Galdan Targaisling Cultural & Welfare Society, Pethub Monastery apprised the LG that the Detailed Project Report regarding construction of the Pethub Monastery Museum has been finalised and requested the LG for laying down the foundation stone to commence the construction of the museum, which the LG accepted.
