Chief Secretary of UT Ladakh, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, chaired a high-level meeting on March 20 at the Civil Secretariat, Leh, to review the Action Taken Reports* on agenda points concerning Ladakh from the 21st meeting of the Standing Committee of the Northern Zonal Council, held in Chandigarh on October 25, 2024.  

The meeting focused on key governance issues, including the speedy investigation and time-bound disposal of cases related to sexual offenses, rape, and the POCSO Act, ensuring justice for women and children. Discussions also covered enhancing banking facilities in rural areas, particularly ensuring coverage of the remaining 34 villages with bank branches and postal banking services, along with the 100% digitalization of all eligibility certificates to enhance financial inclusion.  

A major point of deliberation was the strengthening of the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112) to operate 24x7 and its integration with the Medical Emergency 108 service to provide a seamless emergency response mechanism.  

Further discussions revolved around urban planning, with emphasis on the formulation of the Master Plan for Leh and Kargil, and ensuring compliance with food safety parameters. The implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) was also reviewed to enhance healthcare access in the region.  

To support rural and agricultural development, the Chief Secretary underscored the adoption of Model Bye-Laws for new Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), enabling them to undertake more than 25 economic activities.  

Addressing social welfare concerns, the meeting also reviewed strategies to combat malnutrition among girl children through the POSHAN Abhiyan and explored measures to reduce school dropout ratesunder targeted educational initiatives.  

The Chief Secretary emphasized the need for efficient implementation of all discussed initiatives, ensuring timely progress and effective governance for the welfare of Ladakh’s citizens.

The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Director General of Police, Ladakh, Dr. S.D. Singh Jamwal; Principal Secretary, Sanjeev Khirwar; Administrative Secretaries, among others.