SRINAGAR: The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) on Monday reviewed the implementation of constitutional safeguards, welfare schemes and development programmes for Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in Ladakh, with a focus on education, healthcare, livelihoods and infrastructure in remote and high-altitude areas.
The review meeting was chaired by NCST members Dr Asha Lakra and Jatothu Hussain and attended by NCST Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh, Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra, DGP Ladakh and senior officers of the UT Administration.
During the meeting, Secretary, Social and Tribal Affairs, Nidhi Malik, presented an overview of Ladakh’s ST population and its socio-economic profile. She also briefed the Commission on various welfare schemes, including scholarships for ST students, Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Utkarsh Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission, PMAY-G and Ayushman Bharat.
The Commission sought details on tribal hostels, educational facilities, scholarships, student dropouts, livelihood programmes, skill development and healthcare infrastructure in tribal and remote areas.
Dr Lakra also sought information on domicile criteria, identification of villages covered under targeted tribal development programmes and measures being taken to facilitate higher education among ST students.
Education emerged as a key area of discussion, with Secretary, School Education, Bhanu Prabha, briefing the Commission on schools and hostel facilities across Ladakh.
The Commission reviewed the implementation of the National Education Policy, besides the incorporation of local languages and dialects into the curriculum and preservation of local stories, traditions and cultural practices. It stressed the need for region-specific educational content suited to Ladakh’s geographical and cultural conditions.
Healthcare and social security in remote tribal areas were also discussed. The Commission sought details of empanelled hospitals, availability of medical services in remote areas and measures to protect the health of herders and pastoral communities exposed to extreme climatic conditions.
The meeting also reviewed livelihood promotion through Self-Help Groups, skill development, access to credit and marketing of traditional products.
The Commission emphasised strengthening SHGs, promoting local products and cuisine, supporting traditional crafts and improving branding and market linkages for local enterprises.
Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra apprised the Commission of initiatives to strengthen traditional livelihoods, particularly pashmina spinning and weaving. He said focused interventions were also being undertaken for nomadic communities under the Vibrant Villages Programme, including basic infrastructure and housing support in remote areas.
Kundra also highlighted initiatives concerning climate-resilient agriculture, greenhouse cultivation, winter vegetables, apricot-based livelihoods, Farmer Producer Organisations and cold-chain infrastructure.
He informed the Commission about SIDCO loans and recent loan melas organised in coordination with banks and other stakeholders to facilitate access to credit and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Power and water infrastructure in remote areas also came under review. The Administration briefed the Commission on grid connectivity, transmission coverage and decentralised solar power solutions.
Water scarcity and implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission were discussed, with emphasis on water conservation measures, including construction of check dams in areas such as Nubra.
The Commission also reviewed issues concerning wildlife demarcation and tribal rights. The Administration said the process of defining and verifying wildlife boundaries through geographical coordinates and field-level verification was underway.
Women’s safety, domestic violence, deployment of women police personnel, recruitment, cyber awareness and drug-related cases among youth were also discussed.
The Commission called for stronger awareness and preventive measures and effective implementation of welfare and protection programmes.
Healthcare manpower and emergency air connectivity in remote areas were also reviewed. The Administration said efforts were being made to provide specialist medical services in remote locations, while retaining specialists remained a challenge due to harsh winter conditions.
The status of emergency and air-evacuation facilities in Kargil and Nubra was also discussed. The Administration said coordination with the Indian Army and Airports Authority of India was being maintained in this regard.
The NCST stressed effective implementation and regular monitoring of constitutional safeguards, reservation provisions and welfare schemes for ST communities.
It also called for greater inter-departmental convergence and focused interventions to ensure that government benefits reach tribal communities, particularly those living in remote, high-altitude and border areas.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the NCST and Ladakh Administration, including NCST Director Purnendu Kant, Deputy Secretary Manohar N Sukole and Senior Investigator Sonal Rai.
