LEH: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) cleared several matters of crucial importance as he chaired back to back meeting at Raj Niwas.
The LG fixed the annual rate of hike in the fees of post-graduate courses at the University of Ladakh (UoL) at 6%, while making the exposure tour fees optional for students.
Mishra also called for formulation of a sports quota policy for Ladakh for the benefit of sportspersons from Ladakh, while deciding to take up the matter of affiliation of Ladakh cricket with BCCI with its higher authorities. He also emphasised the need to prepare
The LG also issued directions to clear the garbage pile-ups on roadsides in certain areas of Leh town, besides clearance of obstructions and boulders from river channels and canals in Leh town.
Mishra passed these directions in back to back meeting he chaired in last 24 hours.
The LG held a meeting at Raj Niwas to finalise the fee structure of post-graduate courses at the University of Ladakh (UoL).
It was decided in the meeting that the tour fees will not be charged from students in post-graduate courses and will be made optional.
It was also decided that 60% of the tour fee will be subsidised by the University of Ladakh from its own funds for ease and convenience of students and also to reduce their financial burden, especially those students belonging to the economically weaker section (EWS).
The LG instructed that equal opportunity must be given to all students to go on exposure visits.
There was also a discussion to fix the annual rate of hike in the fees at around 6% so that the exercise is not repeated every year.
The central-government scholarship schemes being availed by students from Ladakh were also discussed in the meeting. The members present in the meeting also inquired about the grounds on which the fee structure for the post-graduation admission for the first semester and third semester in the Year 2023 was proposed.
Chairman, LAHDC Kargil, Feroz Ahmed Khan; Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Tashi Gyalson; Advisor, Dr Pawan Kotwal; Commissioner Secretary, Higher Education, Padma Angmo; Vice-Chancellor, UoL, Prof SK Mehta; Registrar, UoL, Prof Ashok Sharma and other officials from UoL were present in the meeting.
Meanwhile, a couple of delegations led by Chairman and CEC of LAHDC Leh, Tashi Gyalson called on the Lieutenant Governor and highlighted the issue of cricketer Skalzang Dorjey ‘Kalyan’, who is the first cricketer from Ladakh to be selected for various tournaments organised by BCCI and requested LG to release the funds amounting to Rs 3.5 lakhs as expenses for his participation in Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijaya Hazare tournaments organised by BCCI.
Skalzang also raised the issue faced by him in providing good-quality training to budding cricketers from Ladakh and the need for affiliation for Ladakh cricket with BCCI.
He informed LG that he provides training to around 40 budding cricketers from Ladakh at Leh Cricket Academy set up in a small area.
He requested for a proper cricket ground to train the youngsters along with financial support to establish a better coaching camp-cum-ground for the budding cricketers from Ladakh, besides for a sports quota for the recruitment of deserving sportspersons from Ladakh for various government posts and jobs.
LG instructed Secretary Ravinder Kumar to provide sports gear and equipment to promote players from Ladakh.
He also assured to take up the matter of affiliation of Ladakh cricket with BCCI with its higher authorities. He also emphasised the need to prepare a sports quota policy for UT Ladakh for the benefit of sportspersons from Ladakh.
LG also asked Gyalson to look into the issue of garbage pile-ups on roadsides in certain areas of Leh town and to ensure maintenance of cleanliness in the town area. He also asked Gyalson to look into the issue of clearance of obstructions and boulders from river channels and canals in Leh town.
The issue of widening the junction road near Ramasadsa and Yak Tail Hotel to reduce traffic congestion was also discussed in the meeting.
The LG instructed the concerned officials to check the feasibility, check the funding estimate and then include the work in the New Project Works of the Annual Action Plans of the Union Territory and both the LAHDCs under Special Development Package (SDP) and State Sector (Capex).
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor has taken up the matter for permitting the foreign tourists for night-stay at Hanle dark sky reserve with the Minister of Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh.
“The Hon’ble Minister has noted the issue for further action,” an official spokesman said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate India’s first Night Sky Sanctuary being set up in Ladakh, which will not only give a fillip to Astro tourism, but also generate revenue as well as livelihood for the region.
