72nd Republic day celebration began with the unfurling of the national flag by Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, R K Mathur on January 26 at Pologround, Leh. 

March Past of the contingents of paramilitary forces, police, ex-servicemen, band parties, and cultural programmes were also performed.

While addressing the gathering, R K Mathur highlighted the hard work and sacrifices of the frontline workers including doctors and paramedics of Ladakh in the time of the pandemic.  He said that Ladakh's fight against Coronavirus was successful because of the administrative responses and the people’s cooperation. He urged the people of Ladakh not to fear the coronavirus vaccination and come forward to get vaccinated. 

He spoke about health and education as the priority sectors and the multi-crore projects of setting up laboratories and developing the health, school, and sports infrastructures. 

LG informed that for the first time a budget of ₹23.49 crores has been approved for the procurement of medical equipment for both the district and medical staff vacancies are being filled on priority to address manpower shortage. He said that the Administration is also working on introducing mobile units and the use of telemedicine as a prospect of health development.

Acknowledging the people’s concern about employment and culture, R K Mathur said that providing employment opportunities is a key objective of  UT Administration and assured to initiate regular appointments after the orders are issued based on the ongoing talks which shall give due consideration to the concerns and aspirations of the people of Ladakh. 

He informed of the recruitment of 385 regular employees through LAHDC, Kargil, and around 600 Ladakhis engaged in different government departments through outsourcing on an urgent basis. 

He said that major focus is being given on upgrading higher education in Ladakh with setting up of Engineering College in Kargil, the introduction of 10 undergraduate and postgraduate streams in the University of Ladakh, up-gradation of Food Craft Institute, Leh to Institute of Hotel Management, a Medical college, a Mountain Research Institute, Skiing Institute and National Institute of Sowa Rigpa to ensure a better prospect for the Ladakhi youth. 

R K Mathur thanked Prime Minister Modi for announcing a new Central University for Ladakh and urged the Ladakhi youth to take full advantage of these facilities at their doorstep.  

To ensure sustainable development of Ladakh, LG said that major focus is being given to developing agriculture, horticulture, dairy, handicraft, and handloom sectors. 

He informed that various initiatives under PM Food Processing and Micro Enterprise Scheme, Apricots, and Seabuckthorn have been selected as priority products for development under the One District One Product Classification of GOI. Likewise, under the national programme, 7000 households have been covered under a benchmark survey across 49 villages, and registration of 32 milk cooperatives is in the final stage and two milk pasteurization units shall come up in Leh and Kargil districts. He further informed that under phase-1 vaccination of the National Animal Disease Control Programme, 94% coverage has been achieved and Ladakh stood 1st among all UTs. 

For entrepreneurial development, 2000 entrepreneurs have been trained and other initiatives are under process to promote Pashmina, seabuckthorn, medicinal and aromatic plants, etc. 

The Lt. Governor also spoke about effective implementation of various centrally sponsored schemes in Ladakh, promotion of Pashmina, solar power projects, a vision of carbon-free Ladakh, promotion of tourism sector with a prime focus of winter tourism promotion, and power supply. 

Earlier, the Lt. Governor of Ladakh paid tribute to the martyrs in a wreath-laying ceremony by the Indian Army at the Hall of Fame. He was accompanied by Lt. Gen. PGK Menon, GOC, HQ 14 Corps, and Maj. Gen Aakash Kaushik, Chief of Staff, HQ 14 Corps.

Different people for their commendable service to society and excellence in different fields were also honoured.