Delhi Chalo Padyatra is a month-long padyatra led by Activist Sonam Wangchuk along with other organizations like Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Leh Apex Body. This march started from Leh on 1 September and aimed to culminate in Delhi on 2 October 2024.
What Are The Demands?
This march has been started to press four demands to central government which are statehood for Ladakh, sixth schedule status for the Union Territory, early recruitment along with a Public Service Commission for Ladakh, and Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.
Separate LoK Sabha seats have been demanded for Leh and Kargil for better and equal political representation.
Sixth schedule of the constitution provides for the administration of Tribal Areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. It establishes autonomous councils with legislative, judicial, executive, and financial powers to independently govern these areas.
It aims to provide protection to tribal land and resources, preventing the transfer of tribal resources to non-tribal individuals or communities. It aims to ensure that the tribal communities are not exploited and their identities and culture is preserved.
It gives Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) the power to make laws in their jurisdiction, collect revenues, and protect and preserve tribal culture.
Ladakh has demanded for sixth schedule status to have say in the law making of the Union Territory. It aims to protect its tribal identity, environment, and culture of its people.
Ladakh is considered to be one of the most visited tourist places in recent years. It is known for its heritage, sustainable development, rural landscape, vibrant culture, pastoral communities, flora and fauna.
When the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill was passed in Parliament, striking down Article 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution on 5 August 2019, people of Ladakh, especially from Leh, celebrated this status change and rejoiced, as Union Territory (UT) status was a long-standing demand.
However they grew skeptical about the dominance of bureaucrats thus voicing their demand for statehood of Ladakh and sixth schedule status to Ladakh. They don’t want the territory to be governed by the bureaucrats sitting in New Delhi. The Sixth schedule will give the region a stronger control over its resources, lands, administration, governance which will ultimately protect the cultural identity.
They have also asked for separate public commission for Ladakh which will give them better representation in the administration.
People of Ladakh claim that the UT status has made Ladakh vulnerable to exploitation in terms of its resources which can disturb ecological system of this Himalayan region. Therefore, to safeguard themselves and Ladakh from industrial exploitation, they have placed their demands.
Who Is Sonam Wangchuk?
Sonam Wangchuk is an engineer, education reformist, innovator and activist. He was born in 1 September 1966 in Alchi, Ladakh. He is the founding-director of the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL). He became a known figure in public domain after Aamir Khan’s film ‘Three Idiots’ was released. The character of Phunsuk Wangdu in the film was based on Wangchuk’s story. From 2007 to 2010, he worked as an education advisor for MS, a Danish NGO working to support the Ministry of Education for education reforms.
He is also known for inventing Ice Stupas, which is an artificial glacier that stores the wasting stream waters during the winters in the form of giant ice cones or stupas, and releases the water during late spring as they start melting, this way it helps the farmers. He developed solar-powered tents for Indian Army in 2021.
In 2020, he had called for boycott of Chinese products as a response to conflict between Indian and Chinese troops. In 2024 he started fast-unto-death for his demand of sixth schedule status for Ladakh. Sonam Wangchuk has been voicing for recognition of Ladakh’s need as the changes take place in society.