SRINAGAR: The BJP-led Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC-Leh) has unanimously passed a bill that seeks to provide 33% reservation to women in the hill council.
LAHDC-Leh chief executive councillor Tashi Gyalson said the passage of the bill on Tuesday was a move towards “inclusive development and gender equity in one of the remotest and most strategic regions” of India. “We have demonstrated that the remotest regions of the country are ready to lead by example in empowering their women,” he told TOI.
“For a region like Ladakh, known for its stunning landscapes, yet challenged by geographical remoteness and limited infrastructure, the unanimous approval of the women’s reservation bill is more than just a policy decision. It symbolises a shift in mindset and a decisive push toward inclusive governance,” Gyalson said.
The Ladakh region has two hill councils — LAHDC-Leh and LAHDC-Kargil. The Leh hill council came into existence in 1995 when Jammu and Kashmir, then a state including Ladakh, was under prolonged central rule. In 2003, the then J&K chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed established a separate hill council for Kargil.
At present, LAHDC-Leh is run by BJP, which won 15 seats in the 26-member council in Oct 2020 in the first polls held after Ladakh was carved out as a UT in 2019. Congress won nine seats, while Independents bagged two. The National Conference-Congress combine swept the 26-member LAHDC-Kargil in Oct 2023, winning 22 seats. BJP won only two seats.
Gyalson said the LAHDC-Leh’s move aligns with PM Narendra Modi’s broader vision of empowering women. “The new legislation will open doors for women, especially from rural and far-flung areas, to step into leadership roles, participate in policymaking and shape the future of their communities,” he added.