Discusses humanitarian assistance & air connectivity for Ladakh
STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, today called on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi and held a detailed discussion on strengthening welfare initiatives and connectivity measures for the Union Territory, particularly during the winter months when Ladakh remains cut off from the rest of the country.
During the meeting, the Lt Governor apprised the Defence Minister of the unique challenges faced by the people of Ladakh owing to extreme climatic conditions and limited accessibility during the prolonged winter season. He sought the Ministry’s continued support in extending humanitarian assistance under Operation Sadbhavana, an initiative of the Indian Army that has been instrumental in promoting goodwill, education, healthcare, and community welfare across remote regions of Ladakh.
Kavinder Gupta emphasised the need to further augment air connectivity to ensure uninterrupted supplies and emergency movement during the winter period. He requested the continuance of air services between Kargil-Thoise-Chandigarh and also proposed enhanced air maintenance services between Leh and Delhi to facilitate essential logistics, passenger movement, and medical evacuations when road access remains closed due to heavy snowfall.
The Lt Governor expressed his gratitude to the Defence Minister for the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of border residents, including the medical evacuation of civilians and for the Army’s continued role in Ladakh’s socio-economic development.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh appreciated the concerns raised by the Lt Governor and assured all possible assistance from the Ministry of Defence in coordination with relevant agencies to improve connectivity and extend the scope of humanitarian outreach in Ladakh.
Meanwhile, The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, emphasised that the dairy and allied sectors play a pivotal role in building self-reliant and resilient communities across Ladakh by creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, empowering rural households, and reducing dependence on external markets.
He said this while interacting with a delegation of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) led by its Chairman, Dr. Meenesh Shah, in New Delhi today.
The Lt Governor noted that focused interventions in animal husbandry, milk processing, and cold-chain logistics would enhance farmers’ incomes and contribute to realizing the vision of a Viksit and Atmanirbhar Ladakh, aligned with the national goal of inclusive and sustainable rural development.
The Lt Governor reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to work closely with NDDB and local stakeholders to ensure long-term sustainability, improved farmer incomes, and inclusive rural development.
He assured full support from the Administration to translate NDDB’s initiatives into tangible benefits for the people of Ladakh, advancing the shared vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Ladakh.
