Advisor to Governor J&K, Farooq Khan chaired a meeting with elected members of Hill Council, Leh headed by Chairman/ Chief Executive Councilor Hill Council, Leh Gyal P Wangyal on September 28.

Farooq Khan said that efforts are going on to address the issues of Ladakh and fulfill their demands. He said that all the issues and cases should be routed through the office of Divisional Commissioner that will be given priority in terms of approval and implementation as this office is in direct link with State Administration and Centre Government.

Regarding filling up and posting of senior-level officers in UT Ladakh, Khan informed that until local officers fulfill the required vacant posts, officers from UT J&K will be posted in Ladakh to run UT Administration of Ladakh. 

He said that works are under process to fix the terms, conditions and incentives for such officers in this regard. 

Talking about organic farming, Khan advised the Council to ban the import of all kinds of chemicals fertilizers in Ladakh with the help of Police. He also emphasized the strengthening of Rural Dev. Department and said that the Governor’s Administration is working seriously on the reorganization of this department and filling of all the required posts from top to bottom.  

Wangyal, CEC raised various pending issues and problems concerned with Advisor Khan and requested for early redressal before Ladakh is officially declared UT. He informed that so far no funds have been released under languishing projects and insisted to release it at the earliest. 

Phuntsog Stanzin, EC Agriculture apprised the Advisor about the organic policy of Hill Council, Leh. He requested to create the post for Director of Agriculture for Ladakh which was left while creating posts for Ladakh Division. He also demanded to release the total sanctioned funds under Agriculture and Command Area sector of which only Rs. 71000 has been released till date.

Konchok Stanzin,EC Education raised the salary issue of RMSA and SSA teachers, vacant posts of Principals, ZEOs, Headmaster, Lecturers, streamlining of 16 Residential Schools run by Hill Council, Leh, strengthening of DIET Leh, hostel for specially-abled children at Chushot, ensure all subject teachers in Higher Secondary Schools, opening of Eklavya Model Residential Schools in remote areas of Ladakh and making Degree College Khaltsi functional.

Mumtaz Hussain, EC for Minority raised the issue of Anganwadi workers and helpers who are not getting their honorarium since November 2018 and urged the Advisor to look into the matter.

Saugat Biswas, Divisional Commissioner Ladakh; Sachin Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Leh; Sargun Shukla, SSP, Leh and other district officers were also present in the meeting at Council Secretariat.