Six years after Ladakh attained Union Territory status, its youth continue to face a worsening unemployment crisis fueled by unclear recruitment policies, administrative silence, and infrastructural shortcomings. The frustration is growing, as young graduates and job seekers demand urgent action from the administration and their elected representatives.

“How long are we going to remain silent? It’s been six years, yet we still don’t have a recruitment policy,” says Phuntsog Targais, a frustrated youth. “Our parents invested everything in our education, dreaming of a better life for us. But here we are—jobless, hopeless, and ignored.”

The burden of unemployment extends beyond individuals—it weighs heavily on families who have sacrificed financially in hopes of securing a brighter future for their children. Now, many of those same youths find themselves slipping into depression, frustration, and isolation. A troubling rise in substance abuse among Ladakhi youth further reflects the growing social cost of prolonged joblessness.

Job seekers are also battling a lack of transparency and delayed processes from the government. Tashi Gyaltson, another young aspirant, pointed to broken promises by the administration. “We were told job notifications would come in January and exams in April. It’s April 24th and not a single exam has been held. Students are completely in the dark.”

He also criticized the ambiguity surrounding recruitment exams, particularly the provisional syllabus posted on the LAHSSRB website. “It’s marked as tentative and ‘for guidance purposes only,’ meaning it can change at any time. How are we supposed to prepare when we don’t even know what to study?”

“My question to the administration is: Are we expected to study everything, even if it’s unrelated to the job? This isn’t a fair opportunity.”

Adding to the woes is the lack of infrastructure for examinations. According to Tsering Diskit, Leh currently has just one Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre with limited capacity. As a result, many students are forced to travel to cities like Jammu, Delhi, or Chandigarh to take exams—bearing high financial costs and increased mental stress.

“This is not just inconvenient—it’s unjust,” Diskit said. “We’re already under pressure, and now we’re being asked to spend beyond our means just to take an exam.”

The issue of the Ladakh Resident Certificate (LRC) has also re-emerged at the centre of the conversation. Many youth, like Sonam Dawa, argue that recruitment should be based on the LRC to prioritize local candidates and safeguard Ladakh’s identity.

“We’ve been demanding a legal framework for the LRC for years. Back then, no one listened—it was dismissed as an employment issue. But now, with growing outside investment, especially in tourism, even business stakeholders want the LRC made mandatory.”

Dawa pointed out the double standards: “Why didn’t they stand with us when we needed the LRC for jobs? 

He also backed the demand for a 1989 domicile cut-off, similar to Sikkim’s model, to define who qualifies as a true Ladakhi.

“Domicile is not just paperwork—it’s about identity. We were hopeful when the Apex Body and KDA proposed it, but sadly, not a single political representative raised it in the General Council meeting of Hill Council Leh. Are they even thinking about us?”

Another concern is the growing gap between elected leaders and the realities on the ground. Stanzin Padma voiced strong criticism of “self-styled youth representatives” who speak without engaging with those most affected.

“Don’t speak for us without meeting us. Visit the public spaces, listen to our stories, and understand our struggles before claiming to represent us.”

Looking Ahead: May 20 and the Hope for Change

As the High-Powered Committee prepares to meet on May 20, Ladakh’s youth are not just asking for answers—they’re demanding action especially around domicile protections and recruitment reforms.

“We don’t want meeting summaries or vague statements,” says Targais. “We want decisions. We’ve already sacrificed six years of our lives. Our leaders must stand with us now—before this frustration explodes into a larger movement.”