Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), met with elected representatives from Khaltse and Sumoor, led by Councillor Lobzang Sherap (Khaltse) and Councillor Rigzin Lundup (Sumoor), along with officials from the Rural Development Department (RDD), including District Panchayat Officer Leh, Junaid Amin, at the LG Secretariat. The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve, IAS.

Both Sumoor and Khaltse secured second place in the National Panchayat Awards for the appraisal year 2023-23, presented during a ceremony in New Delhi on December 11, presided over by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. Sumoor Gram Panchayat, located in Panamik block, won second place in the Clean and Green Panchayat Award category, while Khaltse Panchayat from Khaltse block received second place in the Panchayat with Good Governance Award.

These two Panchayats are among 27 nationwide to receive the prestigious Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar.

Deputy Commissioner Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve, IAS, shared that the success of Sumoor was attributed to the tireless efforts of the entire community, including women’s self-help groups, in waste collection and segregation. The support provided by LAHDC Leh also played a crucial role. Furthermore, the establishment of Ladakh’s first Book Village in Sumoor was a significant achievement. Similarly, Khaltse’s success in the Good Governance category was due to the community's collective efforts.

Both Panchayats received a cash award of Rs 75 lakhs each for securing second place. DC Sukhadeve emphasized that these efforts would serve as inspiration for other Panchayats, motivating them to work harder towards excellence in future National Panchayat Awards.

Congratulating the people of Sumoor and Khaltse, the Lieutenant Governor urged the elected representatives and officials to utilize every penny of the cash award for the benefit of the community. He advised Councillor Lobzang Sherap to focus on improving cleanliness and green cover in Khaltse and asked Councillor Rigzin Lundup to prioritize effective governance in Sumoor. Additionally, the LG emphasized the need for close coordination between the elected representatives, officials, and the community to ensure the cleanliness of schools and hospitals in their constituencies and to focus on harnessing solar energy.