Save Ladakh: Grant Sixth Schedule To Ladakh

Peoples in Ladakh are demanding for sixth schedule to be implemented in the Union Territory of Ladakh in order to protect their forest, land & water. This demand has came after the exclusion of the demand of 6th schedule to be granted for Ladakh from the Ministry of Home Affairs. After government of India revoked the special status of Jammu & Kashmir in 2019 and divided it into two Union Territories, the fear among the peoples of Ladakh has grown. The fear of big business taking away the land and job from the local peoples have contributed to this fear.

What is Sixth Schedule?

Sixth Schedule is a part of the Article 244 of the Indian constitution that gives power to the tribal peoples to protect their resources. For a region to be under this 6th schedule, the tribal population must be more than 50%. Sixth schedule currently in force in north-eastern states like Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalya. 

Ladakh & Sixth Schedule

Ever since Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019, it has seen a rise in mining, tourism, big projects which threatens the ecology of Ladakh. In September 2019, Nation Commission for Scheduled Tribes recommended that the Ladakh should be granted the sixth schedule because more than 97% population of the Ladakh is Tribal. Ladakh is waiting for the sixth schedule to be granted.