Drass: A New District

The BJP-led NDA government on August 26, 2024, announced the creation of five new districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh, the demand for which kept going up for decades. The five new districts announced were Changthang, Drass, Nubra, Sham and Zanskar. The last time Ladakh was reorganized was in 1979, when Kargil district was bifurcated from the erstwhile Leh district. Both the Honourable Prime Minister and Home Minister congratulated the people of Ladakh on this momentous decision and said that this is a step towards better governance and prosperity and will now receive greater attention, bringing opportunities and services even closer to the people by strengthening governance in every corner of Ladakh.

Following the announcement of new districts, the UT Administration of Ladakh has constituted a committee to assess a number of factors related to the creation of new districts, including headquarters, boundaries, structure, creation of posts, and all other aspects of district formation. The committee members are currently travelling to different parts of Ladakh, where they are discussing the groundwork with stakeholders and listening to their views.

Drass is known as the “Gateway to Ladakh” and is one of the oldest tehsils of the Ladakh region. Compared to other regions of Ladakh, the Drass region lagged behind in key developmental parameters. The region remains isolated even from Kargil district headquarters due to the severe winter weather. As a result, people find it very difficult to complete their daily tasks. Providing services to the residents of this area is also a challenge for the government. Drass is only weakly represented in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil. As a result, the LAHDCK and the bureaucrat-run district administration occasionally failed to give Drass the attention it deserved. Due to the daily neglect and backwardness of the region, the local population began to look and dream for their own district. The demand for district status thus became louder and louder, and various socio-political organisations in the region fought for it. Especially after the creation of Ladakh as a separate UT, there were protests which were equally supported by people from all walks of life. The people of Drass have made numerous statements about their demand to the elected leaders, the UT government, and even the country's top officials.

Way forward

In order to bring this region on par with other regions and make Drass a successful and peaceful area, a dedicated development package is essential and a vision document must be prepared in consultation with all stakeholders in the region. The government must now reduce this inequality by providing them with resources and offering various development packages to boost agriculture, education, health, tourism and other sectors.

Health and education are the two most important areas that require attention. Improving the region's school infrastructure is the key area that requires utmost attention. Especially since the introduction of the new CBSE board, the learning outcomes and pass rate in matric and post-matric are shockingly low. The 1999 war had a significant impact on the region's education levels, with many people dropping out of school, primarily because they were displaced from their homes during the conflict. The local population has given up their education and is working as porters to support their families. In this regard, the establishment of central schools like KV and JNV will undoubtedly improve the quality of school education in the Drass region. Furthermore, the establishment of a Sainik School in Drass will prepare the young generations of Ladakh in general and Drass in particular for a career in the armed forces and instil a deep love for the country. Also, the modernisation and upgrading of the current sub-district hospital will certainly benefit both the local population and tourists, thereby providing them with access to good medical facilities.

For various reasons, the livelihood opportunities of the region's residents are less fulfilling than in other parts of Ladakh. The severe cold temperature in the region makes horticulture and agriculture less profitable. Agriculture and its allied sectors, such as fishing and livestock farming, can be promoted to improve the living standards of the local population. The GI label status and promotion of agricultural products such as wild mushrooms (sheentili in the local language) and Kala zeera (black cumin) will encourage people to support local agriculture. Since there are many medicinal plants in the area, it is important to preserve the rich flora of the region as well.

The government's main aim should also be to promote the service sector, especially the tourism sector. Numerous types of tourism, including adventure, wildlife, winter, and leisure  have enormous potential in Drass region. To truly exploit the tourism potential, all hiking routes and tourist destinations must be made accessible to visitors. In order to facilitate trade and the movement of people and goods, road connections in the region should be improved. Local cuisine and culture as well as the uniqueness of the region, should be promoted to attract more tourists in both summer and winter.

Most importantly, the Drass region is strategically located close to the Line of Control. Due to its close proximity to sensitive border areas, it requires special administrative attention, which is essential for national security. The government must therefore offer a special development package for the overall development of this border region. The residents of Drass Valley are very happy that the decision was made to make it an independent district. District status will undoubtedly improve governance and alleviate the suffering of the local population. Drass must be at the forefront of economic, environmental and human development. In developing Ladakh, Drass must strive to be the best district.