Ladakh observes shutdown to express anguish over unfulfilled promises of employment

SRINAGAR: Ladakh observed a complete strike on the Friday to express anguish and apprehension against official policies, especially for employment generation and recruitment.

It was the first strike since the region was cut off from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and declared a separate Union Territory. Locals alleged that the promises made in the wake of the August 5, 2019, decision have not been fulfilled and that the youths in the region, instead of getting more opportunities, are staring at a crisis in absence of any job security and avenues of employment. The strike, called by the All India Kargil Ladakh Students Union (AIKLSU), a conglomerate of students association functional across India, garnered support from all political parties including the BJP and other religious and business organisations.

Students raised the issue of non-announcement of results of the examinations conducted in October 2019 for various posts by the recruitment board and of the J&K Bank declaring the residents of Ladakh ineligible for posts for which examination was conducted in 2018.