Ladakh Govt Considers Job Quota for Locals in New Proposal:

According to sources, the Union Cabinet discussed issuing drafts on reservation allocations for locals in employment opportunities for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil along with granting official language status to Bhoti and others in the Union Territory on Thursday.

The proposals were first discussed on Wednesday during the Union Cabinet meeting. These draft proposals stemmed from conversations with members of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) who have been actively pushing for statehood for Ladakh, the UT’s inclusion in the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, and the formation of a separate public service commission for the territory.

During the last meeting for representatives of the central government with the Head Leaders of scale LAB and KDA back in December 2024, there was a lot of deliberation on the suggestion for local employment reservation and citizenship language quota where natives 95% employment opportunities were proposed alongside an included women’s quota.

Even though there were sources, what was revealed does not address how the discussion came to a conclusion, what proposal was finally accepted, and whether or not any legislation was taken up with all the provisions to legalize them.

Credible sources have said that if the suggested changes are accepted 80 percent of the appointed positions will be earmarked for tribal's in the Leh and Ladakh districts, 4 percent for people living proximate to the Line of Actual Control, 1 percent for those belonging to Scheduled Castes, and 10 percent for other categories of Economically Weaker Sections.

Over 90% of inhabitants in Ladakh are from Scheduled Tribes.

For some while now, the LAB and KDA have been demanding statehood for Ladakh, inclusion of the region as a Union Territory under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, and the establishment of a separate public service commission for the region.

For several rounds of discussion with LAB and KDA on their demands, a high-powered committee (HPC) for Ladakh under the direction of Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai has had deliberations with them.

Ladakh used to be a part of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir; the Assembly had four representatives from this region.

On August 5, 2019, Article 370 of the Constitution, providing special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was revoked, and the state was split into two Union territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

As per Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, Jammu and Kashmir was made a Union Territory (UT) with a legislative assembly and Ladakh a UT without an assembly.

In December 2023, the BJP-ruled Centre assured a Ladakhi delegation that it would invest in the development of the UT and align with the aspirations of the people of the region.

Home secretary appointed a committee headed by Mr. Rai for the region of Ladakh for an examination of the need to safeguard the rich unique culture and language of the region for the purposes of its geography and strategic significance.

The HPC’s discuss strategy for land and employment protection, measures of comprehensive development and employment creation in the region, and strengthen the powers of the Autonomous Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil and other constitutional protections.

For decades, various groups within Ladakh clamored for a distinct UT and that demand was fulfilled on August 5th, 2019. However, many constituents of Ladakh were displeased after relinquishing the right to vote for their assembly representatives.

In August 2024, the Center established five additional districts within the UT of Ladakh.

These were Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang. Due to being a UT, Ladakh is directly governed by the union home ministry.