Leh, Oct 05: To strengthen mechanisms for women’s safety and welfare, the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has appointed all Social Workers Grade-I and II as Protection Officers under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. This decision replaces the earlier system in which Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs) were entrusted with these responsibilities.
The new notification, issued by the Social and Tribal Welfare Department empowers the social workers to exercise the powers and perform the duties defined under the Act within their respective jurisdictions.
The order, issued vide S.O. 114, aims to ensure more direct and community-based intervention in cases of domestic violence, leveraging the social workers’ proximity and engagement with grassroots welfare programs. The notification underscores the administration’s commitment to safeguarding women’s rights and ensuring accessible protection mechanisms in every block of Leh and Kargil districts.
In Kargil district, the appointed Protection Officers include Mohd Arif for Bhimbhat, Mohd Rafib for Drass, Mohd Munawar Nawaz for Kargil, Shabir Hussain for Barsoo, Niyaz Hussain Khan for Shargole, Feroz Ali for Sankoo and Karsha, Ahmad Ali for TSG, Saleem Javed for Chiktan and Zanskar, Mohd Hasnain for Taisuru, Mohd Hussain for Lungnak, Roqiya Banoo for Pashkum, Zainab Banoo for Lotsum, and Hakima Banoo for Sodh.
In Leh district, the blocks have been assigned to Stanzin Glake, Kunzang Angmo, and Padma Idzes (Grade-I), while Jigmet Disket, Stanzin Palkit, Rigzen Dawa, Deachen Skalzang, Nawang Namgyal, Stanzin Chostak, Nawang Stanzin, and Thinles Choskit (Grade-II) will serve as Protection Officers across blocks such as Leh, Chuchot, Kharu, Khaltsi, Saspol, Nyoma, Durbuk, Disket, and Panamic.
The Social and Tribal Welfare Department has directed all concerned officials—including Deputy Commissioners, the Director of Social & Tribal Welfare, and District Programme Officers of ICDS in Leh and Kargil—to implement the order immediately.
This administrative move is expected to enhance the efficiency and reach of protection services for women facing domestic violence, ensuring faster response, better coordination, and greater accountability at the block level across Ladakh.
