Leh, Feb 12: Ladakh Member of Parliament Mohmad Haneefa Jan on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Union Budget 2026–27, stating that the financial allocation for the Union Territory continues to decline despite growing developmental demands and administrative responsibilities.
Speaking during the budget debate in the Lok Sabha, Jan said the current outlay fails to reflect the realities of a high-altitude region that is still adjusting to its status as a newly created Union Territory.
Referring to the financial trajectory over the past two years, the Independent MP pointed out that Ladakh’s allocation has fallen from ₹5,958 crore in 2024–25 to ₹4,869 crore in 2026–27, which is substantially lower than the Revised Estimates of ₹7,377 crore for 2025–26.
“When Ladakh became a Union Territory, it was given a strong financial base with allocations crossing ₹6,000 crore. The steady decline since then reflects stagnation and, in real terms, a reduction in committed resources,” Jan told the House.
He stressed that Ladakh requires sustained capital investment in infrastructure, road connectivity, healthcare, education and essential public services to maintain development momentum. The MP also drew attention to the absence of any dedicated financial provisions for newly created districts, which he described as necessary for decentralisation and effective local governance.
Jan, while acknowledging the performance of the Union Territory administration and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils, said fund utilisation in the region has consistently crossed 90 per cent.
“This proves that Ladakh has the capacity to absorb higher allocations and translate them into on-ground results,” he said, adding that the partial restoration of funds in the previous year did not match either the expenditure capacity or the development pace of the region.
Raising concerns over sectoral neglect, the MP said the budget does not carry any dedicated financial support for winter sports, despite Ladakh’s natural suitability for high-altitude sporting activities and adventure tourism. He said structured investment in this sector could create employment opportunities for local youth and broaden the tourism economy beyond the short summer season.
He also highlighted the absence of targeted support for agriculture and allied activities, which remain the backbone of Ladakh’s rural economy. According to Jan, farmers are increasingly facing drought-like conditions, water scarcity and climate-related disruptions, but the budget offers no special package or focused projects to address these pressures.
While welcoming the proposal to help develop Leh Palace as a cultural tourism destination, Jan said selective announcements cannot replace a comprehensive development framework. He underlined that heritage conservation and tourism promotion must cover historical and cultural sites in both Leh and Kargil districts in a balanced manner.
The MP further criticised the absence of a formal consultation mechanism with elected representatives and local institutions during the preparation of the Union Budget. He said Ladakh continues to remain outside any structured process through which regional priorities can be formally placed before the Union Government.
Linking the issue to the region’s long-standing demand for full statehood with a legislature, Jan argued that an elected legislative structure would allow Ladakhis to deliberate on their development needs and convey their priorities through an accountable political framework.
In his concluding remarks, Jan said he would take up Ladakh’s financial and developmental concerns directly with the Union Home Minister and the Finance Minister in the coming days. He expressed hope that the government would reconsider the allocation pattern and enhance funding in line with Ladakh’s utilisation capacity, strategic relevance and long-term requirements.
The intervention has drawn attention across Leh and other parts of the Union Territory, where public representatives and civil groups have repeatedly raised concerns over funding constraints and limited local participation in national decision-making. As the sole parliamentary representative of Ladakh, Jan’s address has once again placed the region’s demand for fair resource distribution and responsive governance at the centre of the ongoing budget debate.
