Parliamentary committee begins visit to Ladakh

Leh, July 17: A Parliamentary Standing Committee led by veteran Rajya Sabha member Digvijay Singh commenced its official visit to Ladakh on Thursday undertaking a focused evaluation of educational and social development initiatives in the region.The 17-member delegation, representing diverse political affiliations and regions of India, was warmly received with traditional Khataks at Hotel Dragon in Leh. Dr. Pawan Kotwal (IAS), Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, along with other senior officials, extended the ceremonial welcome.The visit aims to assess the status and challenges related to education, child development, youth engagement, and women-centric welfare schemes in the high-altitude Union Territory.On the opening day, A. Srija, Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Education, provided an in-depth presentation titled “Initiatives to Support School Education in Ladakh.” The briefing highlighted persistent issues such as inadequate digital infrastructure, teacher shortages in remote belts, and barriers to equitable learning access.Bhanu Prabha, Secretary of School Education, UT Ladakh, further expanded on the local government’s efforts, including multilingual learning modules, culturally sensitive curriculum development, and training programs to enhance teaching quality across diverse terrains.The committee will also tour schools, host community-level discussions, and interact with educators, students, and civil society representatives. The tour is part of a broader central initiative to tailor national schemes for remote regions and ensure Ladakh’s inclusion in India’s sustainable development vision.