Ladakh News
Lieutenant Governor Brig (Dr) BD Mishra and First Lady Neelam Mishra Inaugurate District Panchayat Resource Centre at Agling Leh, 19th April 2025: The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), along with the First Lady Smt Neelam Mishra, inaugurated the District Panchayat Resource Centre at Agling, a facility constructed by the Rural Development Department (RDD) of the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh. The event also saw the flagging off of SRMC vehicles and a visit to the SARAS exhibition stalls organised by Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Speaking at the inauguration, First Lady Smt Neelam Mishra commended the efforts of the Rural Development Department, led by its Secretary, Shashanka Ala, IAS, for successfully establishing the District Panchayat Resource Centre. She expressed her satisfaction with the visible progress in Ladakh, particularly regarding the welfare of self-help groups (SHGs) and women’s empowerment, made possible with the support of the Government of India. Smt Mishra emphasised the importance of SHGs becoming self-reliant and independent. She highlighted the significant role of women’s groups in creating products that have the potential to be sold both domestically and internationally. She referenced the example of pashmina wool, which has received Geographical Indication (GI) tagging, stating that despite the hard work of women in Ladakh, pashmina products are yet to fully realise their potential in the market. Stating that the progress of Ladakh cannot be measured by the success of only a few entrepreneurs, the First Lady underscored the need for all entrepreneurs and SHGs in Ladakh to thrive in order to ensure the region’s overall development. While acknowledging the challenges posed by Ladakh’s extreme weather and winter highway closures, she noted that various initiatives are in place to support SHGs and entrepreneurs in the region. Reaffirming her commitment to environmental sustainability, Smt Neelam Mishra stressed the importance of recycling and reusing waste materials to achieve the vision of a ‘Zero Waste Ladakh’. She informed attendees that waste segregation plants in Ladakh are operating beyond capacity, and she shared plans, in collaboration with the Rural Development Department, to develop a system to recycle materials like tetra packs, turning them into useful products. She called for concrete actions to preserve the environment, highlighting that collective efforts are essential for sustainable progress. Earlier in the event, Secretary of the Rural Development Department, Shashanka Ala, IAS, presented an overview of the department’s achievements, particularly across six key sectors: State/SDP Sector, Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), PM Awas Yojana, and Watershed Development Component-Integrated Water Management Plan (IWMP). Secretary Ala praised SHGs as the backbone of Ladakh, emphasising the department’s ongoing efforts to benefit and empower women SHGs across the region. He also echoed the commitment to transforming Ladakh into Zero Waste Villages, reinforcing the department’s dedication to sustainable development. The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Director, RDD, Sayed Sajad Qadri, who thanked all the participants and officials for their contributions. Also present at the event were SSP Leh Shruti Arora, IPS, ACD RDD AG Zargar, JKAS, District Panchayat Officer (DPO) Leh Junaid Amin Bhat, JKAS, and several officials from the Rural Development Department, along with members of the SHGs and other distinguished attendees. |
