JAMMU, FEBRUARY 8: Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level meeting with a delegation from the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil, alongside senior officials from Jammu and Kashmir, to address a range of concerns affecting Ladakh students, patients, and residents in the region.
Representing LAHDC Kargil, the delegation was led by Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, accompanied by Feroz Ahmad Khan and other councillors. Also present were Member of Parliament for Ladakh, Haji Mohd Haneefa Jan, and senior National Conference leader and former Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasised the importance of strengthening communication between the Ladakh administration and Jammu & Kashmir’s authorities. He urged the delegation to coordinate with the Ladakh administration to ensure the deployment of senior officers in Jammu and Srinagar, to better address the challenges faced by residents of Ladakh in J&K.
To improve medical assistance for Ladakh patients, the Chief Minister assured the delegation that space would be made available at SKIMS and other super-specialty hospitals in Kashmir to establish a help desk. The desk will be managed by Ladakh administration staff to provide immediate support to patients from Kargil and Leh.
Omar Abdullah also encouraged the delegation to raise awareness among Ladakh students about the available quota in J&K educational institutions, noting that many seats remain unfilled. He reaffirmed the historical ties between Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, stating, “While administrative maps may change, our relationship with Ladakh remains unchanged and rooted in centuries of shared history.”
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and Minister for Jal Shakti Javed Ahmed Rana assured the delegation that priority would be given to resolving issues related to infrastructure, including roads, drinking water, and other essential services in Ladakh.
Earlier, the Kargil delegation raised several key issues, including the appointment of nodal officers to assist patients referred to SKIMS Soura and other super-specialty hospitals in Srinagar, as well as the selection and training of paramedical students in J&K’s institutes. They also sought the expansion of existing student hostels in Srinagar and Jammu, and an increase in the number of Ladakh students admitted to various colleges and universities in J&K. In addition, the delegation requested the promotion of tourism in Kargil and other parts of Ladakh through events in Srinagar.
The delegation expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his attentive approach and proactive stance in addressing their concerns. They praised the J&K government’s commitment to improving facilities and opportunities for the people of Ladakh.