Leh, Jan 27: Asking the brothers, sisters and youth of Ladakh to come together and take the pledge to make Ladakh the most developed and prosperous union territory among the eight UTs of India in the next five years, the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), presided over the main function of the celebrations of the 75th Republic Day at the Polo Ground. The HLG also unfurled the Tricolour, inspected the parade and took the salute at an impressive march past. A large number of people from Ladakh also took part in the Republic Day celebrations.
Congratulating the people of Ladakh on Republic Day, the HLG expressed gratitude to the armed forces, paramilitary forces and police personnel for their devotion to duty and for going beyond their assigned responsibilities and contribution to the health and education of the local people. He also mentioned the successful celebration of the fifth Ladakh Foundation Day under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme under which 175 students from remote areas of Ladakh along with 35 teachers were sent to every Raj Niwas and Raj Bhawan of the country to showcase the culture and art of Ladakh. He also wished the best to people of Ladakh who made excellent progress in the fields of art, culture, literature, spirituality and sports.
The HLG highlighted various initiatives taken by the Administration along with both Hill Councils and Panchayati Raj Institutions to develop Ladakh, viz. carbon-neutral Ladakh, development and transportation work, telecommunication work, employment for youth, business and skill development, tourism development, complete and special protection of Ladakhi culture, security programme, education development, development in health sector, agricultural development, development in the field of sports, frontier area development, Swachh Ladakh Programme, etc.
The HLG mentioned the endeavour made by him to tackle the issue of increasing airfares, the decision to form Ladakh’s own Recruitment Board/Staff Selection Commission, his meeting with the chairman of UPSC regarding the Recruitment Rules for gazetted posts for Ladakh, his active pursuit for the purchase of the MRI machine for District Hospital Kargil for the past six months and meeting with officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs to expedite the purchase process; the steps being taken to reduce mortality of pashmina goat kids in the winter months, the process of detachment of attached teachers and school staff, etc.
The HLG also distributed souvenirs/awards to winners of marching contingents and cultural performances along with certificates of participation.
The marching contingents comprised Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Ladakh Police (men/women), SPOs, Ex-Serviceman, National Cadet Corps (NCC) Boys/ Girls, NCC Kargil (Boys), Mutahhary Public School, Kargil; Mahabodhi Residential School, Sindh Public School, Moravian Mission School Leh, Ladakh Public School, Ladakh Scout Regimental Center (LSRC) band and IRP 25 Battalion female band. Ladakh Police’s Dog Squad (K9) also demonstrated a drill as a part of the marching contingent.
There were cultural performances from students of different schools of Leh and Kargil and also by the cultural troupe from Culture Academy Jammu.
Mahabodhi Residential School came first in march past followed by Mutahhary Public School Kargil and Moravian Mission School, Leh at second and third positions, respectively. Government Middle School, Gangles emerged winner in cultural performance while Govt Girls Higher Secondary School, Leh and Mutahhary Public School came second and third, respectively.
The winners of 4th State Awards were also announced on the occasion.
Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson; Executive Councillors and Councillors from LAHDC Leh; elected representatives; Advisor to the HLG, Dr Pawan Kotwal, IAS; ADGP Ladakh and officials from Ladakh Police; Administrative Secretaries; Deputy Commissioner, Leh; officials from armed and paramilitary forces; Head of Departments and district officials were present during the Republic Day celebrations.
Earlier, in the morning, the HLG unfurled the Tricolour at Raj Niwas. He also laid wreath at the war memorial and paid homage to the martyrs at the Hall of Fame.
In the evening, the HLG hosted the ‘At Home’ function on the occasion of Republic Day in which elected representatives, heads of religious/political/social organisations, Armed forces, award winners, government officials and other prominent personalities of Ladakh were present.
