VoL Desk, May 10: The Central Government is reportedly considering a proposal to empower the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) of Leh and Kargil to protect the land, environment, culture, language, and heritage of the region, reported a news report recently.

This move is expected to provide more financial and administrative powers to the councils to carry out development work and ensure adequate safeguards. While a similar proposal was discussed a year ago but didn’t mature, it is likely to receive the Centre’s nod this time.

However, the High Powered Committee (HPC) constituted by the Union Home Ministry earlier this year, which is mandated to discuss measures for the protection of Ladakh’s unique culture and language, has yet to hold any meetings.

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The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have dissociated themselves from the HPC and are demanding that members from their bodies be included in the HPC as per their choice, and their agenda items, including Sixth Schedule status, Statehood to Ladakh, two Parliamentary seats, and job opportunities, be incorporated.

Senior BJP leader and lone Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgayal, has stated that a decision on extending Constitutional safeguards to Ladakh will be taken shortly, and it will be in the interest of Ladakhis.