Why are Ladakh's Voters Demanding for the 6th Schedule?

Written by Ashutosh Dubey

In the first election since UT status, Ladakh recorded 67.15% turnout after going to the polls on 20th May, 2024, in the fifth phase of the General Elections. Many saw this election as a crucial move to push for the demands of Statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule.

Why is Ladakh demanding for the 6th Schedule, and why has Sonam Wangchuk been in the main frame of Ladakh’s protests?

After the abrogation of in August 2019, Ladakh was separated from Jammu and Kashmir and became a Union Territory without a legislature. And since then, people in Ladakh have been asking for statehood and people’s representation in the Assembly. Sonam Wangchuk and the locals of Ladakh are asking for statehood for Ladakh, its inclusion in the 6th schedule of the constitution, the setting up of a separate public service commission for Ladakh, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.

The character of Phunsukh Wangdu was inspired by Sonam Wangchuk of Ladakh! He is an engineer, innovator, and education reformist who started a 21-day hunger strike (extendable till death) that he called a “climate fast” along with Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) leaders and supporters on March 6. The fast and the protest were in support of Ladakh residents demanding safeguards for the territory’s fragile ecology and autonomy over land and agricultural decisions.

What is the 6th Schedule of the Constitution?

It provides for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram to safeguard the tribal population’s rights. Article 244(2) and Article 275(1) provide for this special provision. The 6th Schedule came from the Bordoloi Committee and was passed in 1949 by the constituent Assembly. The Committee had suggested providing limited autonomy to the tribals of the North-East region over tribal regions. Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) can be formed to safeguard the rights of tribal people in tribal areas. 

ADCs are vested with the tribal freedom to exercise legislative and executive powers and can set up village councils or courts to decide matters between parties of Schedule Tribes. Councils can collect taxes and land revenue and are provided with the power to regulate money lending and trading. ADCs can lease for the extraction of minerals and establish public facilities like schools, health centres, and parks. The acts of Parliament and the state legislature do not apply directly to districts with ADCs, but with modifications and exceptions. The governor has the power to organise and reorganise autonomous districts and can also form a commission to examine and report on these administrative units and can make changes as per the suggestions of the commission.

Bounded by the Karakoram range at the north and the Zaskar range at the south, Ladakh consists mainly of high plains and deep river valleys. Ladakh's total population, according to the 2011 census, is 2.74 lakh. More than 97% of the population of Ladakh belongs to the Schedule Tribe, namely: Balti, Beda, Bot, Brokpa, Dropka, Dard, Shin, Changpa, Garra, Mon, and Purigpa.

How is Ladakh “ecologically sensitive”?

There are large numbers of glaciers and glacial lakes in Ladakh, known for being the major source of water for the region. The Himalayan glaciers of Ladakh, famous as the “water town of Asia,” count among the few frozen freshwater resources in the world. Some of the endangered species, like the snow leopard and Pika, that are indigenous to Ladakh are most likely to lose their habitat.

Due to climate change, glaciers are retreating, leading to a scarcity of water for drinking and agriculture. As the large numbers of tourists visiting the UT increase, so does their carbon footprint. The rapid development of the region in terms of infrastructure is leading to the loss of habitats and biodiversity. The government is planning to boost tourism in the region. As per the reports, 4,50,000 tourists visited the UT in 2022 in just 8 months, outnumbering even the local population. Seven hydropower projects have been proposed, along with solar projects. The Ladakh government. will clear around 157 hectares of forest land for building electricity transmission lines. The region is rich in minerals and industrialists have shown interest to explore the area.

What is the government doing?

The government has formed a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai to look into the issue of ‘Ladakh’. Nine rounds of meetings between the committee of New Delhi and 14 delegates of the KDA and LAB have ended in deadlock with no concrete decision. The last meeting was held on March 4th, 2024. Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured to offer special provision for the UT under Article 371 and was also willing to provide an 80% reservation in public employment. Articles 371 and 371-A through J provide “special provisions” for specific states to allow certain religious and social groups to exercise autonomy over their practices and affairs without any interruption from the state or central governments. It does allow a certain level of representation and autonomy for the locals of Ladakh, but it will not be as effective as the 6th Schedule. It will be the first time in the history of India that Article 371 will extend to a Union Territory. Otherwise, special provisions offered under this article are only implemented in states like Bombay and Gujarat to save the businesses of particular groups of traders there.