Why in news?  Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) constituted a high-powered committee chaired by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai for the Union Territory of Ladakh development

Highlight

Why was the committee formed?

• Ladakh have been demanding protection of land, resources and employment after the special status of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution was read down by Parliament.
• It was because of the fear of big businesses and conglomerates taking away land and jobs from the local people have contributed to this demand.

What is the main objective of the committee?

• It will discuss measures to protect the region’s unique culture and language taking into consideration its geographical location and strategic importance;
• It mainly aims at to ensure protection of land and employment for the people of Ladakh
• To strategise inclusive development and discuss issues related to the empowerment of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill District Councils of Leh and Kargil.

What is the sixth schedule?

• The sixth schedule under Article 244 of the Constitution protects the autonomy of tribal populations through creation of autonomous development councils
• This council can frame laws on land, public health and agriculture.
• As of now ten autonomous councils exist in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
• As per the 2011 Census, the total population of Ladakh nearly 80% of them are tribals.

What is the government’s stand?

The objective for inclusion of tribal population under the sixth schedule is to ensure their overall socio-economic development,

• UT administration has already in those lines of work  and that sufficient funds are being provided to meet its overall developmental requirements.
• Ladakh administration recently increased the reservation for the Scheduled Tribes in direct recruitment from 10% to 45% significantly help the tribal population in their development.