New Delhi/Leh, Jan 29: Former Member of Parliament from Ladakh and Senior BJP Leader Jamyang Tsering Namgyal (JTN) on Wednesday met Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi and raised a range of issues linked to Buddhist education, cultural institutions, and tourism-related challenges in the Union Territory.
During the interaction, Namgyal apprised the Union Minister of long-pending matters affecting monastic education systems and institutions associated with Buddhist learning, while also drawing attention to the pressures faced by Ladakh’s tourism-driven economy. He sought the Ministry’s guidance and support for administrative and policy interventions aimed at addressing these concerns.
The former MP urged the Ministry to grant formal recognition to Drepung Gomang School in Karnataka as a feeder school of the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies. He stated that the school plays an important role in providing modern education alongside traditional Buddhist studies to monks from Ladakh and other Himalayan regions, and that recognition would help ensure academic continuity and strengthen the existing education framework.
Namgyal also strongly advocated for the regularisation of 35 contractual teachers serving in Gompa feeder schools under CIBS. He informed the Minister that many of these teachers have completed more than a decade of service and contribute not only to academic teaching but also to the preservation of Ladakh’s cultural and heritage traditions. He highlighted their professional insecurity and lack of social security benefits, calling for a structured and time-bound process to address their service conditions.
The issue of educational access in remote areas was also raised, with Namgyal requesting the upgradation of Duzin Photang School to the Higher Secondary level. He noted that such an upgradation would benefit students from the Zanskar region, which remains geographically challenging, and would help reduce school drop-outs while aligning with national education objectives.
Tourism-related concerns were placed before the Minister on behalf of the All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association. Namgyal conveyed issues linked to limited air connectivity and flight capacity to Leh ahead of the summer season, high airfares, and the impact of international travel advisories on tourist arrivals. He also pointed to the need for stronger sewage treatment and waste management systems in Leh, early operationalisation of a simplified registration portal for hotels and guest houses, and immediate attention to public conveniences, stray dog management, and solid waste handling.
Emphasising that tourism remains the backbone of Ladakh’s economy, Namgyal said growth in the sector must follow a community-centred and environmentally responsible approach to protect the region’s fragile ecology and cultural identity.
The meeting also saw a broader discussion on cultural preservation, Buddhist heritage, and responsible tourism development in Ladakh. Namgyal expressed confidence that the Union Minister’s guidance would help strengthen institutional frameworks and support sustainable livelihoods for students, teachers, and tourism stakeholders across the region.
He thanked the Minister for the detailed hearing and said he hoped for timely and positive action on the matters raised in the interest of Ladakh’s cultural institutions and local economy.
