Kargil marks 79th Independence Day, CEC highlights development, disaster relief needs
Kargil, Aug 15: Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil, Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, hoisted the national flag at Khree Sultan Chow Sports Stadium on Friday during the district’s 79th Independence Day celebrations, pledging progress in education, housing, and horticulture while urging disaster relief for flood-hit areas.
The celebration witnessed enthusiastic participation from contingents of Ladakh Police, the Police Band Party, and students from various government and private schools.
In his address, Dr Jaffer extended greetings to the people of Kargil, paying homage to freedom fighters including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr B R Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Ashfaq Ullah Khan, and Lal Bahadur Shastri.
He called Independence Day “a symbol of freedom, independence, and peace” and urged citizens to work towards the progress and happiness of the nation. Highlighting ongoing development initiatives, the CEC said efforts were being made to address unemployment and improve education in the district. Under the Academic Arrangement scheme, 127 teaching positions have been filled, along with the appointment of 849 teachers for Urdu, Hindi, Bhoti, and Mathematics. Laptops are being provided to students in 42 schools under the meritorious programme.
He announced that a fair and transparent transfer policy for teachers would be implemented soon. Recruitment drives are underway to fill divisional and district cadre vacancies, while applications for gazetted posts are being processed through the UPSC.
The CEC said that under the Bosymet-e-Goyoks housing scheme, 400 eligible beneficiaries would receive around Rs 6 crore for the construction of new houses. For horticulture, Rs 45 lakh has been allocated to install modern apricot washing, cleaning, and packaging machinery capable of processing three tonnes per hour. This year, 1.5 metric tonnes of fresh apricots have been exported to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait.
Referring to recent flash floods in Shakar-Chiktan, Suru, and adjoining areas, Dr Jaffer urged the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh to declare these regions disaster-affected and release emergency funds for rehabilitation.
Recognising achievements, Dr Jaffer congratulated local achievers, including Ghulam Mehdi from Suru, who cleared the UPSC examination to secure an IPS posting, and Rinchin Youdol, who won a gold medal at the 10th Asian Para Taekwondo Championship in Malaysia.
