leh, 12 April (H.S.): The Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, today inaugurated the newly constructed Rural Development Department (RDD) Complex and the District Resource Centre at Kurbathang, along with the Co-Working Space at Kargil.

The RDD Building, constructed at a cost of 19.56 crores, incorporates all key officers under a single roo,f including Directorate, Assistant Commissioner Development, District Panchayat Officer and others. The building complex has a Resource Centre, Library, and a Conference Hall.

Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor expressed confidence that the RDD Complex and District Resource Centre would play a pivotal role in strengthening rural planning, institutional capacity, and the overall delivery of governance in the district. He said the new facilities would enable more effective and well-coordinated implementation of development programmes, particularly benefiting rural and remote areas of Kargil.

The Lieutenant Governor observed that this significant addition to Kargil’s infrastructure landscape strongly aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat initiative. He described the project as an important step towards realising the Prime Minister’s vision of inclusive and sustainable development, especially in geographically challenging regions.

Emphasising rural transformation, the Lieutenant Governor stated that the ongoing infrastructure development in Kargil reflects the Government of India’s unwavering commitment to Gramin Vikas, guided by the principles of speed, sensitivity, and skill. He underlined that the objective of these efforts is to ensure equitable development, reaching every individual across all regions of the country.

Highlighting Ladakh’s unique geographical and strategic significance due to its proximity to China and Pakistan, the Lieutenant Governor stressed the importance of a holistic development approach. He said that while safeguarding national borders remains a top priority, strengthening infrastructure and promoting tourism are equally vital for enhancing livelihood opportunities and enabling the people of Ladakh to become self-reliant.

The Lieutenant Governor also underscored the immense potential of locally produced goods such as pashmina, apricot, and sea buckthorn to establish a strong presence in international markets. He noted that improved finishing standards, enhanced packaging, and well-planned marketing strategies could significantly boost the global competitiveness of these products.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar