STATE TIMES NEWS
LEH: Julay Ladakh, an organisation for a sustainable future through international cooperation and exchange activities between Japan and Ladakh, in collaboration with Takshoku University Japan on Friday organised a workshop on ‘Balanced and Sustainable Future in Ladakh’ at the Centre for Archaeological Studies Ranbirpur, Leh.
The workshop was participated by LAHDC and NGO representatives, journalists, and entrepreneurs from Ladakh and university officials, students and other visitors from Japan who are here in Ladakh on a study tour.
Councillor Diskit, Tsering Angchuk said that policy decisions of LAHDC need to be backed up with action plan and implementation so as to ensure a balanced and sustainable development in Ladakh as he observed that most plans remains in shelves without being implemented.
Deputy Director Ladakh Environment and Heath Organisatio (LEHO), Tashi Thokmet said different regions of Ladakh need region specific plans so that every village can become organic and sustainable since one standard set of plan cannot be replicated to every village. LEHO has adopted Takmachik village as organic model village and this initiative has been drawing visitors from across the world for its success.
Entrepreneur Skarma Namtak, who has been successfully running business ventures related to organic produces, said cooperatives need to relax the norms for fixing rates of commodities such as the seaburkthorn berry so that local produces are procured by different companies outside which will ultimately ensure sustainable development of the villages.
Agriculture Officer Thinles Dawa, while sharing his experience in the field of agriculture, appreciated initiatives like Looms of Ladakh for its professionalism as it is fetching a handsome income to many rural self help groups in the recent months.
News Editor AIR Diskit, Dolma observed that imbalance in the field of agriculture and also overall development of Ladakh that is seen today could be because of subsidised food items provided under Public Distribution System.
STATETIMES Bureau Chief, Tsewang Rigzin stressed for close coordination amongst different stakeholders in the implementation of ambitious policies such as the Vision Document – Ladakh 2025. He said although tourism industry looks like the biggest pillar of Ladakh’s economy today, it cannot be called as the backbone of Ladakh’s economy because tourism industry is benefiting only a portion or a section of the region’s population.
Gyal from Thiksay explained how agricultural practices are being affected in today’s era of development and modernisation. He said farming and agriculture can also fetch a good some income if practiced professionally together with ancestral wisdom and knowledge that has been inherited generations to generations.
