Ladakh's leaders urge Centre to declare it tribal area to protect its identity

Prominent leaders of Ladakh on Saturday made a fervent appeal to Centre to declare region a tribal area under Sixth Schedule of Constitution to protect its identity.

In a memorandum to Union minister Arjun Munda, Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal said Ladakh is a predominantly tribal area with tribals making up to 98 percent of its population.

"After Centre anunced its decision to make Ladakh a Union Territory, biggest concern of tribal population here is to protect ir identity, culture, land, and ecomy," he said.

Namgyal appealed to Union tribal affairs minister to declare it a tribal area under Sixth Schedule of Constitution to protect interests of its people.

Based on Articles 244(2) and 275(1), Sixth Schedule of Constitution, comprising of 21 separate articles, provide for adminstration of tribal areas in states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, after setting up automous district and regional councils.

"I appeal to you to make a representation to Home Minister Amit Shah on our behalf to protect demography and culture of Ladakh," he said.

"Under Jammu and Kashmir government, many tribal schemes could t be implemented in Ladakh. Scholarships, hostels, and schools for tribals... t much development work took place here under tribal sub-plans," local MP said.

At launch of an Aadi Mahotsav edition on Saturday evening, Ladakh Automous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) chairman Gyal P Wangyal said ir only demand is that Ladakh be brought under Sixth Schedule of Constitution so that our land remains protected.

READ: Independence Day In Leh: Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal's Joyous Celebratory Dance Will Warm Your Soul

J&K Legislative Council chairman Haji Anayat Ali also met tribal affairs minister and discussed issues related to land acquisition, job reservation and or concerns of youths of Ladakh.

Addressing tribal festival, Munda said, "I have got to kw that tribals make up to 95 to 97 percent of Ladakh's population and I promise you that we will do whatever is required from a constitutional perspective to protect m." 

re are special provisions in Constitution for administration of tribal-dominated areas in four states -- Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. As per Article 244 and sixth schedule, se areas are called "Tribal Areas", which are technically different from "Scheduled Areas" under fifth schedule.

While all areas under fifth schedule and sixth schedule are tribal-dominated, Constitution calls m with different names. While executive powers of Union extend in Scheduled Areas with respect to ir administration in fifth schedule, sixth schedule areas remain within executive authority of state.

Aimed at giving a flip to tribal ecomy in Ladakh, Mahotsav is Centre's first mega event here since Central government anunced decision to make Ladakh a Union Territory.

READ: Independence Day: Multitalented Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal Celebrates In Leh By Playing Traditional Drums

Ladakh is currently a part of Jammu and Kashmir and new UT will come into effect on October 31. nine-day Aadi Mahotsav, a joint initiative of Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), is being organised at Polo Ground, Leh, and will continue till August 25.

Around 160 tribal artisans from more than 20 states across country are participating in it. TRIFED Managing Director Praveer Krishna said changes in Union Territory status of Ladakh has provided an opportunity to scale up business opportunities for tribals in Ladakh.

"We will register tribal groups from Ladakh. At present, we have a small number of m empanelled with TRIFED," he said.

Ladakh is kwn for pashmina shawls and apricots. idea is to provide tribal cultivators with a big market across country. Through a collaboration of TRIFED and online marketplace Amazon, se products will be sold in 190 countries across world, Krishna said.