Kargil, August 15: Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, hoisted the National Flag at Khree Sultan Chow Sports Stadium, Biamathang, Kargil, and took the salute at the march past as the nation marked its 79th Independence Day.
The celebration witnessed enthusiastic participation from contingents of Ladakh Police, the Police Band Party, and students from various government and private schools.
Prominent dignitaries in attendance included Executive Councillors Kacho Mohammad Feroz and Phunchok Tashi; Deputy Commissioner and CEO LAHDC Kargil, Rakesh Kumar; Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kargil, Shree Ram R.; Directors of FCS&CA, ULB, Tourism and Education; Joint Director Information; Additional Deputy Commissioner Kargil; ACR Kargil; senior district officers, representatives of religious organisations, and members of the public.
In his address, Dr. Jaffer extended greetings to the people of Kargil, paying homage to freedom fighters including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Ashfaq Ullah Khan, and Lal Bahadur Shastri. He called Independence Day “a symbol of freedom, independence, and peace,” and urged citizens to work towards the progress and happiness of the nation.
Highlighting ongoing development initiatives, the CEC said efforts were being made to address unemployment and improve education in the district. Under the Academic Arrangement scheme, 127 teaching positions have been filled, along with the appointment of 849 teachers for Urdu, Hindi, Bhoti, and Mathematics. Laptops are being provided to students in 42 schools under the meritorious programme.
He announced that a fair and transparent transfer policy for teachers would be implemented soon. Recruitment drives are underway to fill divisional and district cadre vacancies, while applications for gazetted posts are being processed through the UPSC.
For power grid load management, solar plants are being installed in 320 schools, expected to be operational by October. Under a subsidy scheme, heaters have been distributed to 5,000 households, while solar water lift and irrigation systems have also been implemented.
The CEC said that under the Bosymet-e-Goyoks housing scheme, 400 eligible beneficiaries would receive around ₹6 crore for the construction of new houses. For horticulture, ₹45 lakh has been allocated to install modern apricot washing, cleaning, and packaging machinery capable of processing three tonnes per hour. This year, 1.5 metric tonnes of fresh apricots have been exported to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait.
Referring to recent flash floods in Shakar-Chiktan, Suru, and adjoining areas, Dr. Jaffer urged the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh to declare these regions disaster-affected and release emergency funds for rehabilitation.
Recognising achievements
Dr. Jaffer congratulated local achievers, including Ghulam Mehdi from Suru, who cleared the UPSC examination to secure an IPS posting, and Rinchin Youdol, who won a gold medal at the 10th Asian Para Taekwondo Championship in Malaysia.
Following the address, awards were presented to officers and officials for their exceptional public service. Students who participated in the parade were given certificates, mementoes, and consolation prizes.
