It has become the trademark of today’s political stalwarts to address public gatherings in different areas and make promises but forget them soon. They win elections and enter the corridors of power. Present day politics has become more a trade than the public service. We the people living in far off areas of Ladakh have a bitter experience of being neglected on almost all development fronts for last 60 years. Development plans are being formulated in the comfortable office rooms in the Civil Secretariat and other divisional and district headquarters. The officers responsible for drawing blue print of development for the state are either unaware of the difficulties and demands of the people in far off areas or not at all acquainted with the geography of these areas. As I said politicians travel to these areas in the election seasons alone and that too for one or two hours in the favourable whether. This has left us on the mercy of God. Finances may be earmarked for the development of these areas but these are not as per the aspirations of the people and also not in accordance with the needs pertaining to a particular sector. The basic reason for it is politicians and the bureaucracy. I remember a year or so back when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was in Leh, the inhabitants of far flung areas told him that he can understand the requirements and needs of the people in these areas, if he stays with them for at least some days. “This would give you a feel of our hard life and make you aware of the peculiar difficulties we have to experience”, they told him. The Chief Minister then promised them that he will spent at least one week with them in these areas and experience their difficulties of life. Today, I am happy that Omar has kept his promise to be with us here to experience the way of life we live. God knows, if this would make him ask the bureaucracy and ministers not from Ladakh region to visit difficult areas and stay there for couple of days to judge themselves what are the requirements and demands of people in these areas.
Sonam Wangyal
Shey, Ladakh

Lastupdate on : Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST