Celebrating 77^th Independence Day, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) hoisted the National Flag on August 15 at pologround, Leh.

Greeting the people of Ladakh on India’s 77^th Independence Day, LG stated that the citizens of Ladakh are the beloved sons and daughters of God and informed about his plan to make Ladakh the most developed Union Territory of Ladakh. He congratulated His Eminence Thiksey Rinpoche for being conferred with the Padma Shri award along with both the Ladakh Police officials, sportspersons from Ladakh and other award winners for bringing laurels to the region.

LG highlighted various other initiatives and schemes introduced by the Administration along with the two Hill Councils in various fields, viz. tourism, culture, health, power, agriculture, horticulture, skill training, education, sports, infrastructure, road, telecom and internet connectivity, animal and sheep husbandry along with fisheries, etc. He highlighted initiatives taken by the Administration and both the Hill Councils for providing employment opportunities to the youth of Ladakh through the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and District Subordinate Services Recruitment Board (DSSRB) and the plan to establish Ladakh’s own State Recruitment Board. He also highlighted the initiative taken to promote polo-Ladakh’s traditional sport and empower women by sending ten girls each from Leh and Kargil for polo and horse riding training from the President’s Bodu Guard.

He commended the people of Ladakh the two Hill Councils, all the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and all government employees for their tireless hard work and cooperation in the development of Ladakh. He sought cooperation from the Ladakhi sisters and brothers in making Ladakh a Corruption and Delay-Free Union Territory.

LG saluted the parade comprising marching contingents, including Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Ladakh Police Leh (Men), Ladakh Police Women IRP 25 battalion, Ladakh Police Commando Force; Ladakh Police Canine Squad; ex-servicemen Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre, NCC Boys Cadet, NCC Girls Cadet, Suru Valley Public School; Mahabodhi Residential School; GN National Public School Leh; Tibetan Children’s Villages (TCV) Ladakh; Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) and the band party. There were cultural performances by students from different schools from Leh and Kargil districts. Artists from Rajasthan performed Kalbeliya dance while artists from LAACL Leh performed Nyopa song and danced on the occasion.

The winners of the District Award 2023 were also announced during the event. The winners are Dr Jigmat Wangchuk, Medical Officer (Health) in public service; Attaullah Khan, Naib Tehsildar (Revenue) in government service; Tsetan Dorje, Artist (General) in the field of art and Jigmet Norbu, Artist (General) in the field of literature.

Earlier, LG paid homage to the martyrs at the Hall of Fame. He also hoisted the National Flag at Raj Niwas.

In the evening, LG hosted the ‘At Home’ function on the occasion of Independence Day in which elected representatives, heads of religious/political/social organisations, Armed forces, award winners, government officials and other prominent personalities of Ladakh were present.