Leh, Mar 20: Stressing that Ladakh’s future rests on the ideas, innovation and enterprise of its youth, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra on Thursday announced the formation of a “Young Leaders Forum” to institutionalise engagement between the administration and emerging achievers across the Union Territory.The announcement came during an extensive interaction held in Leh, with participation from Kargil through virtual mode, bringing together a cross-section of young innovators, entrepreneurs and social contributors working in sectors ranging from sustainable tourism and handicrafts to renewable energy, agriculture, film-making, urban planning and social entrepreneurship.
Positioning the proposed forum as the central outcome of the meeting, Kundra said the initiative is intended to create a structured platform for continuous dialogue, collaboration and policy input from youth actively shaping Ladakh’s socio-economic landscape. He emphasised that such an institutional mechanism would help align grassroots innovation with administrative planning while fostering a shared vision for development.
The Chief Secretary underlined tourism as a priority sector, calling for a shift towards an integrated and technology-enabled model. He proposed the development of an artificial intelligence-driven tourism portal to consolidate information, promote local enterprises and present Ladakh’s cultural and experiential offerings in a unified format comparable to global destinations. The initiative, he noted, would also allow young achievers to contribute ideas and insights directly into sectoral planning.
He further called for the development of integrated tourism packages, service standardisation and a supportive regulatory framework to strengthen the sector, which remains a primary source of livelihood in the region.
Encouraging a move away from dependence on government employment, Kundra urged participants to take up mentorship roles, highlighting that local achievers are best placed to guide aspiring youth through shared experience and peer learning. He stressed the need to leverage financial resources, technological tools and skill development programmes to address existing gaps and expand opportunities.
Secretary, Higher Education, Bhanu Prabha, while acknowledging the contributions of young leaders, particularly in educational outreach and school orientation initiatives, supported the creation of a formal forum to ensure sustained engagement and structured collaboration.
Participants, representing local enterprises, non-governmental organisations, creative industries and independent ventures, shared their experiences and raised concerns over funding constraints, limited awareness, educational gaps and operational challenges faced by startups and organisations. Issues relating to tourism infrastructure and sectoral growth were also discussed, with suggestions aimed at improving capacity, outreach and institutional support.
The interaction marked a step towards formalising youth participation in governance processes, with the proposed Young Leaders Forum expected to serve as a bridge between policy frameworks and on-ground innovation in Ladakh.
