Excelsior Correspondent
Leh, Mar 3: Demanding establishment of a Government Degree College in the area, which was sanctioned earlier by then PDP-BJP Government, locals of Turtuk block in Ladakh have announced to launch a mass agitation till their demand is conceded.
The mass agitation will commence from March 5 with a peaceful procession by the locals of village Thang, Tyakshi, Turtuk, Chulunkha, Bogdang, Grardi, Changmar and adjoining areas.
Decision in this regard was taken during a meeting of prominent locals of these villages and members of All Balti Students Association, Nubra (Ladakh), led by its president Abdul Qadir. The meeting was chaired by Anayatullah, Sarpanch of Halqa Panchayat Turtuk.
Pertinent to mention that a Government Degree College was sanctioned for Turtuk by then PDP-BJP Government keeping in view the backwardness of this area, which was part of PoK (Gilgit-Baltistan) before 1971 war when it was liberated by India. Turtuk block is 209 kms away from district headquarters. The nearest Degree College for the locals of Turtuk is at Deskit Nobra, which is also at a distance of 92-110 kms from these villages. The number of students enrolled in the Higher secondary Schools in Turtuk block far exceeds number of students in other blocks of Leh district.
The college sanctioned by the PDP-BJP Government for Turtuk was to be made functional from last academic session but the same was not done. Following the collapse of popular Government, the Governor’s administration had cancelled sanctioning of all the new colleges and a fresh list of 42 colleges was prepared, in which Turtuk was missing.
Even as the Governor Satya Pal Malik personally assured to a delegation of the Turtuk locals, who called on him January last, that he would sanction a college for the area from his own kitty of 10 colleges, the same was not done.
Now up in arms against ignoring Turtuk block, the local villagers and students have announced to launch an agitation from March 5.
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