‘Core issues remain’: Why Ladakh’s leaders are dissatisfied with Centre’s new domicile rules

After multiple rounds of talks with leaders from Ladakh, the Centre has announced a new domicile and job reservation policy for the Union territory.

The anxiety over natives losing control over land, resources and employment opportunities had driven sustained protests in Ladakh over the last five years. By reserving most government jobs for local residents and elaborate restrictions on who can be a domicile of Ladakh, the Narendra Modi government has sought to address the demands from the cold desert region.

However, the Ladakhi leadership has called it only a “first step” and a “breakthrough” in reaching a resolution.

“Our two main issues pertaining to statehood for Ladakh and Sixth Schedule status are still pending,” said Chering Dorjay, a senior Ladakhi leader and chairman of Leh Apex Body, one of the two bodies who carried out negotiations with the Union government on behalf of the people of Ladakh. “There has been no discussion on those issues as of now.”

He added: “The core issues remain unaddressed.”

The Ladakhi leadership had sought a constitutional guarantee in the form of the Sixth Schedule which guarantees protections over land and a nominal autonomy for the country’s tribal areas. In Ladakh, more than 97% of the population belongs to Scheduled Tribes.

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