Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, chaired the inaugural meeting of the UT Ladakh Sports Council on September 23 at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat.

During the meeting, Secretary of Youth Services and Sports, Vikram Singh Malik, briefed the LG on the transfer of funds and posts from the J&K Sports Council to UT Ladakh following the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir. He informed the council that UT Ladakh Sports Council was registered as a society in July 2024 and that Rs 7.89 crores, along with 22 posts, had been transferred by the J&K Sports Council.

Malik further outlined the roles, responsibilities, and plans of the newly formed UT Ladakh Sports Council. He also provided details on the council's members, both official and non-official, as well as the structure of its various committees—including the Standing, Executive, and Finance Committees—along with the District Sports Council.
A series of proposals were submitted for the LG's approval, including the nomination of the Administrative Secretary, School Education, and a Sports Administrator as ex-officio members of the council. Other proposals included the appointment of a Secretary to the Sports Council, procurement of vehicles and buses, the mandatory requirement of a Ladakh Resident Certificate for association members, the nomination of outstanding and eminent sportspersons from Ladakh as non-official members, framing of recruitment rules, and management of sports infrastructure through partnerships with registered sports associations. Malik also sought approval for revenue generation strategies, recruitment of outsourced staff, delegation of financial powers to the Secretary of YSS, and the adoption of the National Sports Code by the Sports Council.

Lt Governor Mishra suggested that outstanding sportspersons from Ladakh with experience at the UT level be nominated as non-official members of the Sports Council. He also recommended that the Joint Director of Youth Services and Sports serve as the Sports Administrator, given that this position is the top official in the Sports Department, capable of providing crucial support to the council in its early stages. The LG also emphasized the need to ensure the representation of sportspersons from the general, female, and physically challenged categories.

The LG directed Secretary Malik to task-relevant officials to actively explore Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding for sports development in Ladakh. The installation of chilling plants for the Ice Hockey rinks in Leh and Kargil was also discussed in detail during the meeting.

This first meeting of the UT Ladakh Sports Council marks an important step towards enhancing sports infrastructure and opportunities in the region.

Photo Caption: First meeting of the UT Ladakh Sports Council at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat.