Ladakh's Struggle for Statehood

Study Notes

Ladakh's Protests and Demands

Ladakh has seen significant protests regarding statehood and preserving its identity since 2019.
Protesters are demanding Ladakh's statehood to be reinstated after it was made a union territory without a legislature in 2019.
In 2019, the government of India declared that Jammu and Kashmir would lose its statehood and become a Union Territory.
This change was made along with an amendment to Article 370, which removed Jammu and Kashmir's special rights.

Consequences of Union Territory Status

As a Union Territory, Ladakh does not have a representation of its own in governance.
The region faces difficulties due to its fragile terrain and vulnerability to climate change.
Central Government policies have led to issues like water scarcity, depletion of glaciers, and increased tourism in Ladakh.

Demands and Key Figures

The people of Ladakh are demanding to be included in the 6th schedule of the constitution, which provides exceptional freedom to make laws for themselves with minimal central government interference.
Sonam Wangchuk, an engineer and education reformer from Ladakh, is seeking autonomy for Ladakh and highlighting the damage to the Himalayan region's fragile ecology and glaciers.
Wangchuk is also demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule implementation for Ladakh.

Governance and Representation

UTs like New Delhi and Puducherry have their own Legislative Assemblies.
Article 239 to 241 in Part VIII of the Constitution deals with Union Territories.
The region had four representatives in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in the erstwhile state of J&K.
Currently, Ladakh has a single Lok Sabha constituency.

Description

Ladakh has been witnessing protests since 2019, demanding statehood and preserving its identity after being made a union territory without a legislature. The protests are a response to the Indian government's decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's statehood and special rights.