LADAKH IN PANDEMIC

In the past several decades, Ladakh region was witnessing a healthy tourist season as more and more foreigners were coming to this area during the summers.

The current summer is the first summer after so many years when Ladakh region has zero tourism. The region is witnessing a growing pandemic and also has hovering clouds of war. War like situation in many areas along LAC has already disturbed hundreds of families in Ladakh region and the growing cases of coronavirus is only adding to their worries.

In the recent past many local politicians including from the ruling BJP from Ladakh region have appealed to authorities to intervene as they have no communication in many villages and due to standoff with Chinese army, they have virtually banned coming out from the houses especially during night hours.

People of Ladakh feel that after the Union Government declared it as a separate Union Territory; they are not being heard by the people running the affairs. They are not happy the way they are being handled, especially the common people during a war like situation and pandemic.

 In such a situation, it is the duty of administration to reassure people of Ladakh that they are listening to their grievances and also trying to lessen their problems on the ground. Unless such a message goes out from the UT administration of Ladakh, the common people in Ladakh region along with their local leaders feel that they are being neglected amid growing threats of war and pandemic.