The Union Home Ministry has formed a High Powered Committee (HPC) to safeguard land rights and employment opportunities for the people of Ladakh. The 17-member committee will be headed by Junior Home Minister Nityanand Rai and the committee will include as members Ladakh Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) RK Mathur, MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, chairmen of Leh and Kargil Hill councils, representatives of Apex Body Leh, Kargil Democratic Alliance and nominee officials of the Home Ministry.
“It has been decided to constitute a High-Powered Committee under the chairmanship of Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs, for the Union Territory of Ladakh,” reads the Home Ministry order.
The HPC has been set up to discuss measures to protect Ladakh's unique culture and language taking into consideration its geographical location and its strategic importance.
The committee will also discuss measures to ensure protection of land and employment for the people of Ladakh, reads the order. The committee will discuss measures for inclusive development, employment generation in the region, and empowerment of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh and Kargil.
The move comes amid an increasing demand from the people of Ladakh who are seeking constitutional safeguards for jobs and land after the Centre abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated erstwhile State of J&K into two Union Territories — J&K and Ladakh.