Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Oct 9: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, R K Mathur today suggested that youth may focus on primary sector activities such as growing medicinal and aromatic plants, buckwheat, etc as there are tremendous livelihood opportunities without causing any damage to the environment.
He was speaking at inaugural session of the Indian Himalayan Youth Summit-V, which is being organised by Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) and Sustainable Development Forum of Ladakh with support from the UT Administration and LAHDC Leh as a part of the Sustainable Mountain Development Summit (SMDS) XI, at Sindhu Sanskriti Kendra (SSK).
Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson; Deputy Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Tsering Angchuk; Executive Councillors- Tashi Namgyal Yakzee, Stanzin Chosphel; elected representatives; Principal Secretary, Dr Pawan Kotwal; Divisional Commissioner, Saugat Biswas; Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Jigmet Takpa; Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse; Vice President, IMI, Amba Jamir; Member of Governing Council, IMI, Rigzin Spalbar, district officials and 24 participants from 11 mountain states and UTs were present in the event.
Terming the Himalayan regions as the most important ecologically as they determine the climate of the country and the world, LG Mathur stressed the need for youth taking part in the Summit to deliberate and record the outcomes of the event so that it could be heard and implemented at both regional and national levels.
He emphasised the need to focus on quality tourism and spreading the benefit of tourist activities in all parts of a region rather than allowing it to concentrate in a few places. He stated that tourism enables the consolidation of the cultural aspect of a region and emphasised the need for Himalayan States to respect, own and propagate their culture for the overall benefit of the society. He emphasised the need to balance the environment, economy and socio-cultural aspects to achieve sustainable tourism.
Later, LG Mathur launched e-vehicles and handed over keys to officials from three Government offices.
Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson informed that the Summit is a platform for youth from Ladakh to interact with youth from other Himalayan States and UTs to discuss common issues and learn from each other. He stated that youth can make a lot of difference in coming up with possible solutions and drafting policies for the benefit of the people of the Himalayan regions.
Namrata Neopaney informed about the journey of Indian Himalayan Youth Summit since its first edition held at Kohima in 2013.
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