LEH: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to operate 18 additional flights to Ladakh, including 16 weekly flights on the Leh-Delhi-Leh sector and two additional weekly flights on Mumbai-Leh sector.
This was informed by Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) as he held a meeting with Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Tashi Gyalson; Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal; Advisor to LG, Dr Pawan Kotwal and Departmental Secretaries to discuss various issues faced by the casual labourers and other delegations from Ladakh.
At the outset, the LG informed about the efforts being made by the Administration to increase the operation of daily flights to Leh for the ease and convenience of tourists for the overall benefit of the people from Ladakh involved in the tourism sector.
He informed about the decision taken by the Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, to operate two additional Air India flights on the Leh-Delhi-Leh sector along with 14 additional weekly flights by Indigo on Leh-Delhi-Leh and two additional weekly flights by Indigo on Mumbai-Leh sector.
Gyalson and Jamyang requested HLG to take up the matter of continuing the additional flights till mid-September to cater to the needs of the tourists visiting Ladakh.
The LG discussed the issue faced by casual labourers with the elected representatives and officials present in the meeting. The daily wage workers appealed to the LG for the implementation of a regularisation policy to address their grievances.
Commissioner Secretary, GAD, Ajeet Kumar Sahu informed LG that the wages of these workers have recently been doubled. He also highlighted the directives issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court related to casual workers and daily wagers and the guidelines set by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in this regard.
It was decided in the meeting that a committee will be constituted to prepare a regularisation policy for the purpose which is within the jurisdiction of the law for the overall benefit of the casual labourers and daily wagers.
It was also decided that there will be proper consultation with concerned stakeholders and officials for giving the terms of reference (ToR) to the proposed committee.
The issue raised by the Ladakh Taxi Operator Co-operative Limited regarding the tendering of parking space at KBR Airport in Leh was discussed in the meeting. It was decided that a request would be made to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to sanction the tender in favour of a local instead of tendering it at the national level for the benefit of the locals to help them earn their livelihood.
The issue raised by the Rangdum Gonpa Cultural and Welfare Society related to land owned by the monastery and the steps being taken to resolve the issue at Delhi Public School, Leh was also discussed in the meeting.
