Leh, 07 January (H.S.): The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, today underlined the twin priorities of robust security mechanisms and accurate demographic data as crucial pillars for peace, stability and long-term development in the Union Territory.

These issues came to the fore during two separate engagements in New Delhi and Leh, reflecting the administration’s focus on governance, law and order, and evidence-based planning.

Earlier in the day, DGP Ladakh designate Mukesh Singh paid a courtesy visit to the Lt Governor in New Delhi.

During the meeting, discussions were held on security-related matters, law and order challenges and the need to further strengthen policing mechanisms in Ladakh.

The Lt Governor extended best wishes to Mukesh Singh for his new assignment and emphasised the importance of close coordination among security agencies to ensure peace, stability and effective governance in the strategically important region.

Later, addressing an event in Leh, the Lt Governor described the upcoming Census 2027 as a decisive exercise that will determine Ladakh’s developmental trajectory and future prospects.

He said accurate and transparent data collection was essential, especially given Ladakh’s small population spread across a vast and geographically challenging terrain.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Office of the Director of Census Operations and Citizen Registration, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, at the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museum in Leh.

Emphasising transparency and accountability, the Lt Governor said the first Census in Ladakh as a Union Territory must set a benchmark, recalling irregularities witnessed during earlier exercises under the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state.

He assured full support from the UT Administration to ensure a smooth and credible process, linking the exercise with national goals such as Viksit Bharat 2047 and the use of digital tools, including self-enumeration.

Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra highlighted the adoption of paperless digital tools, while Director Census Operations Amit Sharma briefed about the two-phase Census process and sought additional space for office functioning. Senior officials were also present on the occasion.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar