Trisha Ghosh, Pune
The Centre has announced that it may use Article 371 of the Constitution to provide a protective legislature for the people of Ladakh. Ladakh has been seeing protests for weeks now, with the people demanding provisions, statehood, and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule. While that will not be possible, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has proposed solutions to the grievances in regard to Article 371.
A meeting was held on Monday between representatives from the Union Territory, namely Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, and the Home Minister. The minister has made it clear to the representatives that the demands of the people of Ladakh cannot be included under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution under any circumstances. The Centre has also denied a request for a legislature. Unlike Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh remains a Union Territory with no legislature.
In addition to the aforementioned grievances, the people of Ladakh have also been protesting against ecological destruction and degradation in the region, which has been caused by excessive industrialisation and only has the potential to increase.
However, the Home Minister has proposed that the people’s problems in regard to employment, job availability, land, and culture can all be dealt with under Article 371, which has special provisions for such issues. Article 371 has special provisions for 11 states, which include 6 states from Northeast India. Meanwhile, the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, coming under Article 244, allows a state to form autonomous sections for administration; these sections all have legislative and judicial autonomy as well.
In regard to Shah’s statements on the matter, a leader from the Ladakh region said, “He said the government was willing to reserve up to 80% of the jobs in the region for local people.”
The local leaders have expressed their concerns and perspectives openly, saying that the Centre provides zero commitment when it comes to public representation in the legislature, which is much-desired by the people. Civilians have no choice or say in the administrative decisions taken for the region, as everything functions very bureaucratically.
According to sources, Shah has also promised representatives from the Leh and Kargil bodies that hill councils will be set up to ensure the participation and representation of the local people. Hill councils have the potential to hold significant power and budgets that can match those of a state.
As of now, the government has appointed a committee to investigate and review the key demands of the region. What is certain is that the government will ensure protections, especially for cultural heritage, land, employment, and even languages—only that they will not be in the representatives’ preferred ways. Despite this, the leaders of Ladakh have stated that they will continue to use democratic methods to ensure that their demands are met.