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Leh-based reformist and activist Sonam Wangchuk, along with around 100 supporters, is currently on a Pad Yatra (foot march) from Leh to Delhi, highlighting the issue of Himalayan glacier melting and for the preservation of Ladakh’s unique environment.
Wangchuk and his supporters yesterday reached Baralacha Pass, located at a staggering altitude of around 12,000 feet, on their journey toward the capital. His primary demand is for the Indian government to take urgent steps toward making Ladakh & India in general as soon carbon-neutral and to fulfill its promise of including Ladakh under the 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
The 6th Schedule, which provides for greater autonomy and protections for tribal regions, was a key promise made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. However, despite these commitments, the promise has not been fulfilled, according to Wangchuk, leaving the unique cultural and ecological fabric of Ladakh vulnerable.
Wangchuk has expressed deep concern over the rapid melting of glaciers in the Himalayan region, a phenomenon with dire implications for Ladakh’s water resources and overall ecosystem. His call for Ladakh’s carbon neutrality is an urgent appeal for sustainable environmental policies that would reduce the impact of climate change in the region.
In his journey, Wangchuk also highlighted the contrasting responses from the administrations of the Union Territory of Ladakh and the state of Himachal Pradesh. He noted that while the UT administration did not provide adequate medical facilities for the Pad Yatra participants, the Himachal Pradesh government facilitated medical checkups and support as the group passed through their territory.
The Pad Yatra is expected to culminate in Delhi on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, with the intention of reminding the central government of its environmental and constitutional obligations toward Ladakh.
Apt to mention here that Wangchuk went on a 21-day climate fast which was began on March 6, 2024. During this fast, he survived on just salt and water in Ladakh’s sub-zero temperatures, along with many other participants.
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