NEW DELHI/LEH: As Ladakh grapples with an uneasy calm after violent protests claimed four lives, senior govt functionaries are intrigued at the way the violence erupted as they argue that the region, once at the margins of governance, has seen “unprecedented development” since being carved out as a UT under the J&K Reorganisation Act in 2019.A senior official described it as ironical that fringe elements succeeded in inciting unrest when it was only after 2019 that the region was carved out of J&K to be constituted as an UT and that a concerted effort was made to fulfil popular aspirations related to connectivity, opportunities, infrastructure, new administrative structures. “People had celebrated the grant of UT status, yet a fringe succeeded in provoking unrest,” the official rued.The grant of UT status was followed by significant changes. Citing the measures, an official emphasised that the Centre has pumped resources into road, power, digital and social infrastructure. Key initiatives include the commissioning of 175 mobile towers, extension of the BharatNet project to all 193 gram panchayats, and progress on transmission lines linking Nubra, Zanskar and Changthang to the grid.Educational capacity was expanded with the setting up of University of Ladakh and Sindhu Central University, as well as the first medical college with 100 MBBS seats sanctioned in 2025. A separate UPSC exam centre in Leh has made career opportunities more accessible while literacy rates crossed 97% by 2024.In parallel, livelihood support has been targeted at traditional sectors. Under the PM Vishwakarma scheme, over 4,000 artisans — a big number for the small-sized UT — received credit and toolkits while nomadic pashmina herders were provided with predator-proof corrals and portable shelters.Tourism has also flourished, with arrivals doubling from 2.8 lakh in 2019 to over 5.2 lakh in 2023, boosted by projects such as Hanle Dark Sky Reserve and light-and-sound shows in Leh and Kargil.The Border Roads Organisation has accelerated strategic connectivity — Darbuk-Shyok-DBO road for year-round access to Galwan, Zoji-La tunnel, Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road, and upcoming Shinkun La tunnel, which will be the world’s highest. Together with Bilaspur–Manali–Leh railway project and Nyoma airfield, these projects underline Ladakh’s role at the frontier.The violence, sources feel, cannot be seen in isolation from long-standing demands around statehood, Sixth Schedule protections and resource control. Over the years, the Leh-based Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance have sought constitutional safeguards to preserve Ladakh’s fragile demography and ecology.Analysts note that while local languages, Bhoti and Purgi, have been recognised as a step towards preserving linguistic heritage and ensuring inclusive governance, reservation for domiciles and that for women in hill councils was introduced. A High-Powered Committee was also constituted to address these concerns.
