VoL Desk, December 02, 2024: A joint meeting of various students Unions/Associations of Ladakh across the country was held on 1 December 2024 to address job recruitments and other student related issues. After much discussion and deliberation all the associations made unanimous consensus on the following points.The students pressed for early recruitment of gazetted and non gazetted posts. According to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, 26.5% of graduates in Ladakh are currently unemployed. Since Ladakh’s transition to a Union Territory, no advertisements have been issued for Gazetted posts. Given this, there is an immediate and pressing need to expedite the recruitment process to address the employment gap in the region, stated a memorandum passed after the meeting. The student organisations demanded to make Ladakh Resident Certificate (LRC) mandatory for all Gazetted recruitments in Ladakh. Given the distinct and diverse demographic profile of Ladakh, it is crucial that recruitment policies prioritize local, educated, and skilled candidates by requiring the Ladakh Resident Certificate as a mandatory criterion for applicants. Making LRC mandatory for Recruitments in Gazetted post is necessary for securing employment opportunities for the Ladakhi youths. Necessary steps need to be taken for reserving jobs in Ladakh for Ladakhis, stated the memorandum. “The government sector is the primary source of employment for us, as there are limited opportunities in other sectors. Moreover, since 2019 there has not been any single recruitment processes for Gazetted posts apart from outsourcing and contractual hirings. “Even in Non Gazetted post there has been only meager recruitment processes by DSSRB and SSC (SSC’s posts are still in recruiting mode despite taking exam in 2022!). Therefore, measures like Age relaxation of 5 years is sine quo non in such circumstances so that the youths left out due to lack of and scanty recruitment processes get a chance and opportunity to secure their future.”We propose ending outsourcing and contractual recruitment practices in favor of permanent hiring in Ladakh. This shift will ensure greater job security, cultivate a more committed workforce, and enhance service to the local community.The student organisations that joined the meeting are All Kargil (Ladakh) Students’ Association Delhi (AKSAD), All Ladakh Students Welfare Association Jammu (ALSWAJ), Kargil Ladakh Students Union Bangalore (KLSUB), All Kargil Ladakh Students Association Kashmir ( ALSAK), Ladakh Students Welfare Society Aligarh (LSWSA), Students Educational Movement of Kargil (SEMOK), and Student Association of Ladakh Jammu ( SAOLJ).