LEH, April 24: In a powerful and emotionally charged press conference held in Leh on Thursday, a large group of gazetted post aspirants and unemployed youth from various parts of the Union Territory of Ladakh, particularly from Leh district, voiced deep frustration over the escalating unemployment crisis that continues to plague the region. The youth called upon the administration to take immediate, concrete steps to secure the future of Ladakh’s younger generation and demanded the implementation of a strong and region-specific domicile policy.
Describing the present employment scenario as grim and deteriorating, one of the aspirants stated, “This is the worst phase Ladakh has seen in terms of unemployment. Despite being qualified, we are left without opportunities, and it’s painful to repeatedly face the question: ‘What are you doing with your life?’” He added that the absence of answers to such questions is leading many educated youth into anxiety, emotional distress, and even depression.
Raising alarm about the social fallout of the crisis, the speakers warned that prolonged joblessness among the youth is not just a personal or economic issue—it is quickly becoming a social crisis. They highlighted an increase in substance abuse among the younger population, and expressed fears that if urgent intervention is not undertaken, the region could witness a spike in crime and anti-social activities.
The gathering firmly opposed the idea of implementing a Jammu & Kashmir-style domicile policy in Ladakh, calling it unsuitable and detrimental to the unique socio-demographic fabric of the region. Citing the example of J&K, the youth pointed out that over 84,000 domicile certificates have already been issued to non-state subjects there under a 15-year residency clause. They cautioned that such a model, if applied to Ladakh, could severely impact local employment opportunities and permanently alter the region’s fragile demographic balance.
“We do not support a watered-down domicile policy that opens the gates to outsiders at the cost of Ladakhi livelihoods,” said one of the speakers. The youth reiterated their longstanding demand for a stronger and more protective domicile framework, modeled after the Sikkim pattern, which ensures that employment in the public sector is reserved for native residents. They proposed that the cut-off year for residency in Ladakh should be set at 1989, a date that reflects the region’s demographic and political realities before the socio-political shifts of the 1990s.
With growing anticipation surrounding the upcoming meeting between Ladakhi leaders and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) scheduled for May 20, the youth expressed cautious optimism but also urged transparency and accountability. They insisted that this meeting must not become another round of symbolic discussions but must lead to real, actionable outcomes.
“We have placed our trust in our elected leaders to take our concerns forward. Unfortunately, despite repeated assurances, the ground reality remains unchanged. We need outcomes, not rhetoric,” a youth leader remarked. They also stressed that this time, the official minutes of the meeting with the MHA must be made public, so the people of Ladakh can clearly see what commitments are made on their behalf.
The youth concluded with a heartfelt appeal to the Central Government, Ladakhi leadership, and civil society to recognize the gravity of the situation and take meaningful steps to protect Ladakh’s identity, secure the future of its youth, and ensure that promises of development are not reduced to empty words.