New Delhi

Climate activist and Ladakh reform campaigner Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday said discussions with the Centre on Ladakh’s long-standing demands for democratic safeguards and greater autonomy had moved in a positive direction, though no final agreement had been reached yet.

Speaking to ANI, Wangchuk said Ladakh’s core demands have consistently included constitutional protections under Article 244 and the Sixth Schedule, along with full statehood. He noted that the Centre had instead suggested safeguards on the lines of Article 371, which would require the creation of an elected legislative body.

According to Wangchuk, an “in-principle understanding” emerged during a recent meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs, where discussions focused on restoring democratic representation in Ladakh through a customised legislative framework. He said the proposed body would have executive, financial and law-making authority, along with constitutional safeguards similar to those available under Article 371.

Representatives of the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which have been spearheading the movement for greater self-governance since Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019, attended the meeting.

On the demand for statehood, Wangchuk acknowledged practical challenges, particularly the region’s limited revenue base. He said Ladakh currently lacks the financial capacity to independently sustain the expenditure required for a full-fledged state administration, including salaries for government employees.

He added that the proposal under discussion envisions an elected Assembly-like structure that could function as an interim arrangement until Ladakh becomes financially stronger.

Wangchuk also highlighted that one of the important aspects of the proposal relates to administrative control. Under the suggested model, the elected head of the legislative body would exercise authority over the Chief Secretary and the bureaucracy, replacing the current system in which the Lieutenant Governor holds administrative control.

Despite the positive developments, Wangchuk stressed that discussions are still ongoing and details of the proposal need further deliberation.

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“There was only a proposal, and no final decision has been taken yet. Work on the finer details is still in progress,” he told ANI.