A delegation led by Councillor Cha Stanzin Lakpa met Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, on December 27 at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat.

The delegation expressed gratitude to the Union Territory Administration for announcing the creation of five new districts—Changthang, Zanskar, Nubra, Sham and Drass. They also urged the administration to ensure the formal notification and early operationalisation of the newly announced districts in a time-bound manner so that residents can begin receiving tangible administrative and developmental benefits.

Members of the delegation highlighted the severe challenges faced by people in these regions due to vast distances, harsh climatic conditions, and limited administrative outreach. They stressed that the establishment of full-fledged districts would strengthen grassroots governance, improve public service delivery, enhance disaster response mechanisms, and promote inclusive development, while safeguarding Ladakh’s unique cultural and ecological identity.

Responding to the delegation, Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta said that the UT Administration is fully committed to fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Ladakh. He informed that necessary steps are being taken to put in place the required administrative, infrastructural, and human resource frameworks for the smooth implementation of the new districts.

The Lieutenant Governor stated that the Central Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, remains firmly committed to the holistic and equitable development of the Union Territory of Ladakh, with special sensitivity towards the needs of people living in remote and border areas. The decision to create five new districts, he said, reflects the Centre’s resolve to strengthen decentralised governance, improve service delivery, and ensure inclusive growth, while preserving Ladakh’s distinct cultural, social, and ecological heritage.

Reiterating the significance of the move, Kavinder Gupta said that the creation of the five new districts marks a historic step towards decentralised administration, equitable development, and administrative justice for people living in far-flung areas of Ladakh. The long-awaited decision is expected to bring governance closer to the people, enhance access to essential services, and address long-standing developmental imbalances in the region’s challenging terrain.

He further emphasised that stakeholder consultations will continue to ensure that the transition remains people-centric and responsive to local needs.