Domicile Policy in Ladakh
Following discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the High-Powered Committee (HPC), comprising members of the Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance, reached an agreement to outline a timeline for issuing domicile certificates in Ladakh.
Background and Importance
- The HPC was formed in 2023 after protests in Ladakh about the threat posed by industrial projects to the region's fragile ecology, executed without local consent.
- Post the 2019 abrogation, Jammu and Kashmir split into two Union Territories: J&K, and Ladakh.
- Unlike J&K, which was given domicile rules in May 2020, Ladakh has not had a domicile policy.
HPC Meeting Outcomes
- Consensus was reached for recognizing anyone residing in Ladakh for 15 years from 2019 as a domicile.
- This was a reduction from the previous demand for a 30-year residency requirement.
- The proposed domicile policy would take effect in 2034, benefiting local students in securing jobs.
Challenges and Concerns
- Ladakh faces high unemployment, disconnected from J&K’s employment policies and without its own Public Service Commission.
- Job recruitment is mainly on a contract basis, impacting students who struggle for higher education due to harsh conditions.
- A rise in domicile certificate holders could intensify competition for government jobs.
Demographics and Reservation
- Approximately 90% of Ladakh's population falls under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, benefiting from reservation policies.
Comparative Context with J&K
- J&K has issued over 83,000 domicile certificates to "non-state subjects" since August 2019.
- Domicile for J&K includes those residing for 15 years or studying for at least seven years.
- Domicile is a sensitive issue in J&K, with concerns about "outsiders" taking over land and jobs.
