Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, June 18: Union Minister of State for Textiles, Santosh Kumar Gangwar today inaugurated shelter shed with guard rooms at Samad and solarised community centre at Korzok constructed under Pashmina Promotion Programme.
He also handed over the keys of guard rooms to the beneficiaries at Korzok and interacted with local nomads. At Samad, the villagers submitted a memorandum to the Minister demanding more guard rooms, adequate medicines and cattle feed considering long winter period and increased funds to provide basic facilities.
The Minister was accompanied by Jaswant Singh Bishnoi, Chairman Central Wool Development, Joint Secretary CWDB, Geeta Narayan, CEC, LAHDC Dr Sonam Dawa, MP Ladakh Thupstan Chhewang, EC Works, Dorjey Mutup, EC Sheep Husbandry, Mumtaaz Hussain and Councilor Korzok, Gurmet Dorjey.
Addressing the gathering, Gangwar said, “our endeavour is to fulfill the commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the people of Ladakh during his visit to Leh to promote and upgrade Pashmina production in the region”, adding “construction of guard rooms, community centres and free distribution of 500 tents are a part of it”.
“The Textile Ministry is concerned about providing all kind of facilities as per need to develop pasture lands, bring down flocks death count, generate employment through skill development trainings, provide adequate cattle feed, fodder and medicines to ensure further upgradation in Pashmina production”, the Minister said, adding “Ladakh produces the best quality Pashmina in the world and we are fully committed to create a unique identity for nomadic region of Changthang by ensuring improved facilities for local Pashmina producers”.
MP Thupstan Chhewang said that P-3 is an effort of Central Government to ensure economic growth of the nomadic population but it is not a full-fledged development scheme. He, however, hoped that further upgraded schemes will be launched soon in the region.
CEC LAHDC, Dr Sonam Dawa stressed on the need for pasture development scheme considering the inadequate pasture land in comparison the total population of livestock with 5 to 6 months of grazing period. He also requested for large scale fodder banks for winter stocking which he said is a major reason for deaths of livestock in winters.
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