Religious heads of Sankoo intensify demand for separate district status, cites developmental needs

HABEEL SAGAR

KARGIL: Religious institutions of Sankoo Sub-Division in Kargil district have renewed their long-standing demand for granting separate district status to Sankoo, urging the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to accord priority to the proposal and direct a comprehensive feasibility and administrative assessment of the region.

At a press conference organized here on Friday, all the heads of the religious bodies highlighted the geographical, administrative, developmental and strategic considerations underpinning their demand, asserting that the creation of a separate district would bring essential government services closer to the people, improve governance and ensure more equitable development in the Union Territory of Ladakh.

In a representation addressed to the Union Home Minister, the religious institutions welcomed the Government of India’s recent decision to create five new districts in Ladakh—Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass—but maintained that Sankoo also deserved serious, impartial and sympathetic consideration in view of its population, geographical conditions, administrative importance and developmental requirements.

The signatories argued that the creation of a separate district for Sankoo would strengthen decentralised governance and address the difficulties faced by residents of remote and far-flung areas in accessing public services.

Citing the difficult mountainous terrain and long travelling distances, they stated that residents of Sankoo and its adjoining areas, including Ichu, Pangber, Tangole and Parkachik, face considerable hardships in reaching the existing district headquarters to access administrative facilities and government services.

They maintained that granting district status to Sankoo would reduce these difficulties and bring revenue, development, health, education, police and other essential government services closer to the people. The representation pointed out that Sankoo already enjoys the administrative status of a Sub-Division and Tehsil, providing an existing administrative foundation for further strengthening governance and establishing a separate district.

According to them, the region’s substantial population, numerous villages and wide geographical spread warrant a dedicated district administration capable of addressing local issues more efficiently.

Highlighting Sankoo’s economic potential, the signatories stated that the region has considerable scope for tourism, agriculture, cultural activities and other livelihood-generating sectors. They argued that a separate district administration would enable focused planning and effective development of these sectors, helping unlock local economic opportunities and improve livelihoods.

The signatories maintained that decentralised decision-making would allow development priorities to be identified and implemented according to the specific needs of the region and its people. Emphasising Sankoo’s mountainous terrain and strategic importance, the representation called for an effective local administrative mechanism capable of responding promptly to emergencies and natural disasters.

The signatories stated that the region’s geographical conditions require responsive administration, particularly during difficult situations when timely intervention and coordination among government departments become crucial. They also underlined Kargil’s wider strategic and border significance, recalling the contribution of its people to the nation’s defence and security since Independence, including during the 1999 Kargil War and other sensitive situations.

The representation described the people of Kargil as having stood firmly with the nation during critical periods, contributing to national security like soldiers without uniforms. A significant part of the representation focused on what the signatories described as unequal administrative and developmental treatment of the Kargil region.

They stated that the wider Kargil region comprises approximately 80 revenue villages, with some villages having 500 to 600 families, yet several areas have been left without the benefits of the newly created district-level administrative facilities.

In this context, they argued that the demand for Sankoo’s separate district status deserved fair and impartial consideration to ensure administrative equity and balanced development across Ladakh. They also pointed out that certain areas of Sankoo continue to lack basic facilities, including reliable network connectivity and adequate road infrastructure, leaving them relatively backward compared with other areas.

They maintained that district status would provide an institutional mechanism for addressing these infrastructure gaps and accelerating development in underserved areas. The representation further claimed that the demand for a separate Sankoo district enjoys the support of local residents, public representatives and various stakeholders, and has been placed before the concerned authorities on several occasions.

The signatories urged the Union Home Minister to reconsider the demand and direct the concerned authorities to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study and administrative assessment. They called for the proposed assessment to take into account population, geographical area, distances, difficult terrain, administrative convenience, developmental requirements and public demand.

The religious institutions expressed confidence that granting district status to Sankoo would constitute an important step towards decentralised governance, equitable development and improved delivery of public services in the remote and strategically important region.

Reiterating their appeal, the signatories sought priority consideration of the long-standing demand and necessary steps towards the creation of Sankoo as a separate district in the Union Territory of Ladakh.