A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between LAHDC Leh and KC Social Welfare Trust Nawanshahr Punjab on cooperation in Education on 16 April at Council Secretariat Leh. The MoU was signed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Leh R. K Badyal and Hitesh Gandhi, Vice Chairman KC Social welfare Trust in presence of Special Advisor Ambassador Deepak Vohra and Rigzin Spalbar CEC LAHDC Leh. The MoU was signed with the aim to help economically weak students from Ladakh who show outstanding performances in their exams and also to help students to study different courses outside Leh.

The meeting was attended by EC Health Dr. Sonam Wangchok, EC Tourism Mohd Shafi Lassu, EC Sheep Husbandry Gurmet Dorje, Principal DIET Konchok Angmo, Councillor Ven Lobzang Nyantak, AD Information Rigzin Spalgon, Councillor Tsering Angmo and Councillor Ghulam Saidin.  

Speaking on the occasion CEC LAHDC Rigzin Spalbar thanked Ambassador Deepak Vohra for his support and cooperation without which this would not have become successful. “This step would be a milestone in the field of education especially for those outstanding students of government schools who cannot afford to go outside Leh to pursue various courses.

It is agreed between KC Social Welfare Trust (KCSWT), Nawanshahr, Punjab (a Rs. 2000 crore conglomerate that runs educational institutions and is connected with several groups companies) and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh that:

1. Under the Special Scholarship Scheme for J&K students implemented by the Ministry of Human Resource Development for selected BTech, B Tech lateral entry, BSc Hotel management, BSc Multimedia and BSc Animation, BBA, BCA, BCom and BSc Agriculture KCSWT will cooperate with LAHDC, Leh in accepting at least 500 students for the above nine programmes with payment for tuition, food and accommodation by the Central Government. The students will only pay for their uniforms and university charges not exceeding Rs. 4000 per year.

2. KC Group of Institutions is prepared to accept up to 5000 Ladakhi students annually beginning from July 2015 for diploma, graduate and post graduate courses under the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) of the Central Government under which eligible Ladakhi students will only pay Rs. 15,000 per semester for hostel and food charges with tution paid by the Central Government.

3. Beginning July 2015, KCSWT will accept up to 50 outstanding Ladakhi students annually, selected by LAHDC Leh with at least 60 percent marks in class 10 or as decided by the Chief Executive Councillor to study in its educational institutions in class 11/12 under the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme of the Central Government with simultaneous coaching for All India Competitive exams under various schemes of the Central Government. While tuition fees and other related charges under PMSS are paid by the Central Government, KCSWT will pay for food, accommodation, uniform and books.

4. Under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Tribal Welfare of the Central Government, KCSWT will establish year round coaching centers in the Ladakh area to impart free coaching to class 10 and class 12 students especially during winter vacations (December-February) for training towards success in various competitive exams (Engineering, Medical courses, NDA, hospitality, tourism and other professional courses). The building and staff quarters (for 4 staff) will be offered free of cost by LAHDC Leh.