Union Minister to attend Suru Summer Festival 2026
NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Labour, Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh L. Mandaviya, has accepted an invitation to attend the Suru Summer Festival 2026 as Chief Guest, lending a national profile to one of Kargil’s flagship cultural events while assuring support for a range of developmental proposals concerning Kargil, Drass and Zanskar.
The invitation was extended by Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), LAHDC Kargil, Dr. Mohd. Jaffer Akhoon, during a meeting with the Union Minister in New Delhi on Wednesday, where the two discussed issues related to tourism, sports infrastructure, youth employment and regional development.
Inviting the Minister to the festival, Dr. Akhoon highlighted the Suru Summer Festival as an important platform for showcasing the cultural heritage, tourism potential and scenic landscape of the Suru Valley before a wider national audience. Dr. Mandaviya accepted the invitation and confirmed his participation as Chief Guest, expressing interest in the region’s cultural heritage and tourism prospects.
Beyond the festival, the meeting focused on proposals aimed at strengthening sports infrastructure in the district. The CEC sought the Union Government’s support for establishing a Centre of Excellence in Sports and a Mountaineering Institute in Kargil, citing the region’s natural terrain and growing potential for adventure sports.
Dr. Akhoon said such an institution would provide advanced training facilities for the youth of Ladakh, encourage sporting excellence and help position Kargil as a national destination for mountaineering and adventure tourism.
Employment generation also featured prominently in the discussions, with the CEC urging enhanced central assistance for skill development programmes, livelihood opportunities and initiatives to address unemployment among young people in Kargil and the newly created districts of Drass and Zanskar.
Responding to the issues raised, Dr. Mandaviya assured that the proposals would receive priority consideration and reiterated the Ministry’s support for initiatives aimed at promoting youth development, employment and sports infrastructure in the region.
Dr. Akhoon thanked the Union Minister for the meeting and reaffirmed the commitment of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, to working closely with the Union Government to advance developmental initiatives across the district and the newly created administrative units.
