Explains How Centre’s Missteps Have Affected Region’s Economy, Environment and Society

By Surabhi Singh

Commentary
October 12, 2024

Having traveled 1,000 kilometers on foot, a group is now on a 21-day hunger strike in Delhi, advocating for statehood for their homeland, Ladakh, in the Himalayas in India. On the sixth day of their fast, Oct. 11, I spoke with Mehdi Shah, a key member of the group, to understand why they are so passionate about statehood and fearful of remaining a Union Territory after four years of direct governance by a distant central authority.

Over the last four years, the mood in Ladakh has shifted from initial optimism about their region’s future to disappointment with the central government, culminating now in a sense of urgency. This urgency is perceivable in the ongoing hunger strike, which is the second by Sonam Wangchuk, an engineer-turned-education reformist and climate activist from Ladakh who is leading the peaceful protest.

Until 2019, Ladakh was part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), which enjoyed special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. In 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government revoked Article 370, splitting J&K into two Union territories (UTs) — Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Initially, Ladakhis were hopeful that a separate administration would amplify their voices in matters affecting the region. But their policies have been disappointing, suggested Mr. Shah, a member of the Leh Apex Body.

Since 2019

With no assembly or local political representation, the administration of Ladakh is entirely managed by bureaucrats who operate from a top-down approach, largely removed from the grassroots concerns of the Ladakhi people, he explained. Critical decisions have been made without sufficient input from local stakeholders, leading to missteps that have adversely affected Ladakh’s economy, environment and social structure.

For example, Ladakh has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey, at least 26.5 percent of graduates in Ladakh were unemployed between 2022 and 2023. Yet, the majority of government jobs in Ladakh are outsourced, offering short-term and low-paying contracts.

Furthermore, since 2019, not a single post for gazetted officers has been filled, Mr. Shah pointed out. This hampers effective administration, resulting in weakened institutional functioning, slower development, lack of accountability and poor public service delivery, while also denying qualified Ladakhis access to these vital public sector jobs.

A major decision that has caused concern in Ladakh is the proposed construction of solar power projects in the region, with plans to build up to 13 gigawatts of solar power capacity, Mr. Shah added.

“While renewable energy initiatives are generally positive for climate change mitigation, the Centre’s approach to this project has sparked anger among local communities,” he said. “Large swathes of pastoral land, which have been traditionally used by shepherds for grazing livestock, are being taken over for these solar farms.”

This not only displaces traditional livelihoods but also risks destroying the fragile ecological balance of Ladakh’s high-altitude desert environment. “By appropriating these lands for commercial solar energy projects without adequate consultation or compensation for affected communities, the government risks alienating Ladakh’s people and destroying their way of life,” Mr. Shah said.

It's also about what the government has not done, particularly in the area of infrastructure development.

Remote villages, especially in border areas like Turtuk and Nubra Valley, still lack reliable road connectivity, said Mr. Shah, explaining that during harsh winters, several areas are cut off completely. This hinders economic activities, including tourism, which is a vital industry for Ladakh, and limits access to essential services like healthcare and education. “The Centre has missed opportunities to build strategic roads and develop a stronger communication network that would have bolstered both the economy and the quality of life in the region.”

Fears About the Future

These decisions made without local consultation, and the acts of omissions, are fueling the fears of Ladakhi people regarding the security of their wellbeing.

Ladakh is home to diverse indigenous communities, making up 90% of its population, including the Balti, Boto, Changpa, Garra and others, who have maintained a deep cultural and spiritual bond with the land for centuries, Mr. Shah said, explaining and the lack of autonomy risks gradually eroding the indigenous way of life.

As development priorities shift, traditional practices like agriculture, crafts and festivals could be overshadowed by industrial or commercial projects. “The imposition of externally driven policies may alienate Ladakhis from their cultural heritage, potentially leading to the loss of language, customs, and social systems that form the region’s distinct identity,” said Mr. Shah.

Ladakh’s delicate ecosystem is among the most vulnerable in the world. “The high-altitude deserts and glaciers of the region are deeply intertwined with the livelihoods of local communities. Large-scale infrastructural projects, such as highways, military installations, or tourism developments, often neglect the environmental sensitivity of the region,” said Mr. Shah.

Already, deforestation, overgrazing and unregulated tourism are straining Ladakh’s natural resources, particularly its water supply, he pointed out. “If these trends continue unchecked, there could be disastrous consequences for the local environment, such as glacial retreat, desertification, and reduced water availability. The resulting environmental degradation could force Ladakhi communities to abandon their ancestral homes and become ‘climate refugees’ in search of more habitable areas, contributing to regional instability.”

Ladakh’s geographic location makes it a highly sensitive region, given its proximity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. “The growing discontent among the local population due to perceived alienation or neglect by the central government could lead to instability, which, in turn, may create opportunities for external forces to exploit the situation,” warned Mr. Shah.

Furthermore, Ladakh is a critical part of the larger Himalayan ecosystem, which regulates regional weather patterns and provides freshwater to millions of people in South Asia. “The consequences of unchecked development in Ladakh will not remain localised. If Ladakh’s glaciers continue to retreat due to climate change and local environmental degradation, it will affect the water supply for major rivers such as the Indus, leading to water shortages in downstream regions in Pakistan and India,” said Mr. Shah.

To address these serious concerns, a system that allows for local representation and a deeper understanding of Ladakh’s unique challenges and needs is required, he concluded. He suggested that their demands are crucial not only for the security and wellbeing of the people of Ladakh but also for the entire country and the broader South Asia region.