GUWAHATI: The political landscape in Ladakh, India's chilly and elevated plateau, is heating up as climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and allies from the Ladakh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance continue their 21-day fast.
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Their objective is to push for Ladakh's inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. This designation would provide constitutional status to autonomous councils in Ladakh and Kargil, empowering them to enact laws and impose taxes on village administration and forest management. Additionally, they advocate separate parliamentary constituencies for Ladakh and Kargil, reflecting the Buddhist and Shia demographics respectively.
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Despite ongoing efforts, the central government has not acceded to the demand for the Sixth Schedule, offering instead to extend special provisions akin to Article 371. This stance contrasts with the initial optimism following Jammu and Kashmir's reorganisation in 2019, which Ladakh and Kargil saw as a step toward statehood. However, disappointment arose when Ladakh was designated a Union territory without its own legislative assembly.
Efforts to secure Sixth Schedule status gained momentum after the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes recommended its application to Ladakh in 2019. Yet, progress has been elusive, prompting renewed protests since last year. In February 2024, a mass shutdown in Leh underscored demands to safeguard cultural identity, environmental conservation, local job opportunities, and parliamentary representation.
Despite several dialogues between protest leaders and the Ministry of Home Affairs, a resolution remains elusive. The Ministry contends that the Sixth Schedule is exclusively for the Northeast, covering only Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
The Sixth Schedule enables the formation of Autonomous District Councils with legislative and administrative autonomy. However, it is limited to select regions. Other proposals, such as incorporating Ladakh under the Fifth Schedule, have also been suggested to grant greater autonomy and land safeguards.
Article 371 of the Constitution provides special provisions for various states, tailored to their unique needs. These provisions aim to ensure regional development, preserve cultural identity, and address specific concerns. From Nagaland to Andhra Pradesh, each state's special status under Article 371 reflects distinct historical and socio-political contexts.