Author: The stawa team

Critical analysis: Can we treat drug addiction with alcohol?

Posted on by The stawa team

The increasing prevalence of drug and substance abuse in Ladakh has emerged as one of the most pressing social concerns of our time. Even two decades back, the idea of widespread drug use among Ladakhi youth was almost unimaginable. Ladakh has long been recognised for its close-knit communities, strong family values, rich cultural traditions, and a way of life deeply rooted in mutual respect and social responsibility. Today, however, the region stands at a critical juncture.

Rapid modernisation, expanding tourism, globalisation, easy access to the internet and the growing influence of social media has transformed Ladakh’s social landscape. While these developments have created opportunities for education and economic growth, they have also exposed young people to new lifestyles, trends, and influences that challenge the region’s traditional social fabric. The resulting identity struggles, changing aspirations, peer pressure, unemployment, and increasing availability of intoxicants have contributed to a worrying rise in drug and substance abuse among sections of the youth.

Adding to these concerns, the recent case where the body of a young woman was recovered near Khardung-la in Leh has further intensified public anxiety. As investigations continue, the possibility of a drug-related crime has prompted serious public discussion about the current state of affairs in Ladakh. At the same time, the newly-announced Excise Policy, which proposes improved access to different kinds of liquor and the opening of new outlets in Ladakh, has also generated widespread public debate. The administration has presented the policy as an effort to address drug abuse and a source of revenue. However, many people have expressed concern that greater accessibility to alcohol could further aggravate existing challenges related to addiction, especially among the youth. It is in this context that we decided to speak with different people with relevant experience to help us understand the drug issue and the Excise Policy.

Mental health professionals in Ladakh emphasise that substance abuse is a multifaceted issue that cannot be attributed to a single cause. They explain that it emerges from the complex interaction of psychological, social, and biological factors. Psychological contributors include poor stress management, ineffective coping mechanisms, depression, anxiety, trauma, loneliness, unresolved emotional distress, low self-esteem, hopelessness, and difficulties in emotional regulation. Social factors such as peer pressure, the desire to fit in, adolescent curiosity, thrill-seeking behaviour, family conflict, neglect, abuse, lack of parental supervision, academic and employment-related stress, uncertainty about the future, and easy access of substances, including inhalants, further increase vulnerability. Mental health professionals also note that genetic predisposition and a family history of addiction or mental illness can elevate the risk of substance dependence. They also expressed concern over the increasing number of broken families and divorces as children from emotionally unstable family environments are more susceptible to substance abuse. They therefore stress the importance of recognising and treating underlying mental health conditions at an early stage.

When asked about the impact of substance abuse, mental health professionals identified consequences for mental, physical and social wellbeing. In the short term, they may cause mood swings, anxiety, irritability, impaired judgement, poor concentration, memory difficulties, sleep disturbances, behavioural changes, panic attacks, aggression, psychotic symptoms, seizures, and increased risk of accidents, self-harm, and suicide. Prolonged substance use can result in dependence and addiction, depression, anxiety disorders, persistent cognitive impairment, psychotic disorders in susceptible individuals, declining academic and occupational performance, strained family relationships, financial and legal problems, infertility, higher risk of Hepatitis B and suicide.

Families, they argue, play a crucial role in identifying early warning signs. Sudden behavioural changes, changes in peer groups or daily routines, declining academic or work performance, social withdrawal, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, secrecy, dishonesty, unexplained financial expenses, disturbed sleep or appetite, poor personal hygiene, mood instability, aggression, emotional detachment, red eyes, slurred speech, tremors, repeated intoxication, and frequent absenteeism from school or work may all warrant professional attention. At the same time, mental health professionals caution that these symptoms are not exclusive to substance abuse and may also indicate underlying psychiatric conditions. Consequently, professional assessment is essential before drawing conclusions.

“There is currently insufficient epidemiological evidence to conclude that increasing regulated access to alcohol would reduce the consumption of drugs. From a clinical standpoint, alcohol itself is a highly addictive substance and it is also associated with significant physical and psychiatric complications.”

When asked about the recently announced Excise Policy, the mental health professionals spoke on the condition of anonymity. One of them explained, “There is currently insufficient epidemiological evidence to conclude that increasing regulated access to alcohol would reduce the consumption of drugs. From a clinical standpoint, alcohol itself is a highly addictive substance and it is also associated with significant physical and psychiatric complications. Long-term alcohol use can lead to alcohol dependence, alcohol-induced psychotic disorders, hallucinosis, anxiety, depression, and severe withdrawal symptoms.” They point out that individuals with established alcohol dependence who abruptly discontinue drinking may develop withdrawal seizures or Delirium Tremens (DT), a potentially life-threatening medical emergency. Cases of DT have also been observed in Ladakh among individuals who regularly consume alcohol outside and experienced severe withdrawal after arriving in areas where alcohol was not readily available. They added, “Thus, alcohol dependence should itself be recognised as a major public health concern rather than viewed as a substitute for other addictive substances.”

They further emphasised that addiction should be understood as a treatable health condition rather than a moral and criminal issue. “It requires a comprehensive strategy centred on prevention, early intervention, accessible treatment, rehabilitation, and sustained community support. We also need to strengthen life-skills education and drug-prevention programmes in schools and colleges, expanding access to psychological counselling and de-addiction services, identifying and supporting vulnerable youth, empowering families through awareness and parenting education, reducing the stigma associated with seeking mental health care, creating greater educational, employment, sporting, cultural, and recreational opportunities for young people.” There is also an urgent need to train teachers, healthcare workers, and community leaders to recognise early signs of substance abuse, improving rehabilitation services with long-term follow-up and relapse prevention, strengthening collaboration among health, education, law enforcement, religious institutions, and local communities, establishing AIIMS-supported Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in district hospitals, and increasing the trained workforce dedicated to mental health and de-addiction services. Finally, they argued that while law enforcement and regulation are important, lasting solutions to substance abuse depends on strengthening mental healthcare, community awareness, family support, and evidence-based rehabilitation programmes.

This was echoed by Physician, Dr Suhail Ahsan who explained that drug abuse includes the harmful or non-medical use of psychoactive substances as well as the misuse of prescription medications. He said, “While immediate effects include euphoria, impaired judgment, anxiety, hallucinations, mood swings, poor concentration, increased heart rate, nausea, dizziness, and respiratory depression, prolonged substance abuse can have devastating consequences. Long-term drug use may result in depression, psychosis, suicidal thoughts, liver and kidney damage, chronic lung disease, weakened immunity, and the transmission of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B and C, and HIV. Addiction is a significant public health concern.” He stressed the importance of timely intervention by families and communities. He advised people to remain vigilant for sudden personality changes, declining academic or professional performance, loss of interest in daily activities, unexplained financial demands, poor personal hygiene, secretive behaviour, and signs of intoxication or withdrawal, including shaking, sweating, nausea, and agitation.

When asked if alcohol can serve as a safer alternative to drugs, Dr Ahsan said, “Scientific evidence does not support the claim that increasing alcohol availability reduces drug abuse. Instead, alcohol and illicit drugs are often consumed together. Alcohol itself can encourage risky behaviour and experimentation with other substances. Alcohol carries serious health risks, including addiction, liver disease, cardiovascular disorders, mental health problems, and impaired judgment.”

Will easier access to alcohol worsen the substance addiction crisis in Ladakh?

We also spoke to teachers are various colleges in Ladakh about the UT Administration’s claim that the Excise Policy is meant to address drug addiction. Assistant Professor at Government Degree College (GDC), Kargil, Nasir Khafi said that replacing one intoxicating substance with another cannot be regarded as a meaningful solution. He added, “Instead of this, we need a long-term vision to make Ladakh drug- and alcohol-free, which is in line with the objective of a Nasha Mukt Bharat. Ladakh should promote itself as a destination for nature-based healing and naturopathy, encouraging healthy lifestyles, wellness tourism, and preventive approaches rather than dependence on intoxicating substances.”

Assistant Professor at Eliezer Joldan Memorial College, Leh, Dr Tsetan Dolkar said that the issue is complex as it is driven by multiple factors. She said, “Easy accessibility of drugs is a major concern. In my opinion, psychological distress, anxiety, depression, unresolved childhood trauma, and unstable family environments often make young people more vulnerable to substance abuse. In addition, inadequate parental supervision, curiosity, and peer pressure too encourage experimentation with drugs.”

She added that the normalisation of alcohol consumption in some households, especially affluent families where home bars and liquor collections are increasingly becoming common, may unintentionally influence children’s attitudes towards substance use. She said, “While alcohol is distinct from illicit drugs, such early exposure can reduce the perceived risks associated with addictive substances. When this is combined with peer pressure and emotional vulnerability, it may lead to experimentation. We can attribute the rise in drug abuse to broader social factors, including unemployment, limited recreational and career opportunities, economic uncertainty, weak social support systems, and growing aspirations among youth.”

When asked about the Excise Policy, Dr Dolkar acknowledged that a regulated liquor policy may help curb the sale of illicit alcohol and improve regulatory oversight. However, she added, it should not be regarded as a solution to drug abuse. She said, “There is no clear evidence that increasing the availability of regulated alcohol reduces the demand for illicit drugs. Addiction is a complex issue rooted in psychological, social, and economic realities. Improving access to alcohol without adequate safeguards could create new public health and social challenges. We should also consider the commercial interests in this discussion.”

She further added that educational institutions and society have an important role to play in addressing these issues. Dr Dolkar emphasised that many young people today appear disengaged and uncertain about their future. She said, “Schools, colleges, and community organisations must provide greater opportunities for students to participate in sports, arts, music, entrepreneurship, volunteering, and other constructive activities that foster confidence, purpose, and a sense of belonging. We have seen this with NCC cadets at EJM College wherein students engaged in meaningful pursuits often demonstrate greater discipline and overall development than their peers.”

She said that we should periodically celebrate young achievers as positive role models and encourage them through greater recognition and institutional support. “Drug abuse should not be viewed merely as a law-and-order problem but as a public health and social challenge. It needs coordinated efforts from families, educational institutions, healthcare professionals, communities, and the government. Awareness among parents and youth coupled with open family communication and early recognition of emotional distress remains some of the most effective ways to prevent substance abuse,” she concluded

This was also mentioned by Assistant Professor at GDC, Drass, Archo Fatima Nissa, who said that drug abuse among Ladakh’s youth is acomplex issue. She added, “Unemployment and uncertainty about the future are major factors that increase vulnerability to substance abuse. This is worsened by easy access to drugs, the influence of social media, peer pressure, and changing lifestyles. Psychological distress, anxiety, depression, unstable family environments, and inadequate parental supervision further increase the risk of addiction. The normalisation of alcohol consumption in some households may inadvertently reduce young people’s perception of the risks associated with addictive substances. Drug abuse is a virus infecting society.”

When asked about the Excise Policy, she responded that the focus should be on prevention rather than substitution. She added, “There is no evidence confirming that improved access to alcohol will reduce drug abuse. On the contrary, alcohol is an addictive substance and cannot be regarded as a safer alternative to illicit drugs. Addressing one harmful substance by promoting another is not a solution and may create new public health and social challenges in the future. The administration should prioritise preventive measures, including youth engagement programmes, skill development initiatives, mental health and counselling services, de-addiction facilities, and stronger action against drug trafficking networks.”

She added that colleges interact with one of the most vulnerable age groups during which students navigate the transition from adolescence to adulthood and face academic pressures, career uncertainty, and peer influence.

She added that colleges interact with one of the most vulnerable age groups during which students navigate the transition from adolescence to adulthood and face academic pressures, career uncertainty, and peer influence. “In this regard, these institutions should move beyond classroom teaching by strengthening awareness programmes, counselling, mentorship, life-skills education, and opportunities for meaningful engagement through skill-based courses, career guidance, entrepreneurship, sports, arts, and community participation. Such initiatives help young people develop confidence, purpose, and resilience and reduce their vulnerability to substance abuse,” she concluded.

Finally, we spoke with Assistant Professor at GDC, Padum, Dr Jamphel Sheyan about addiction and the Excise Policy. He said that Chang (traditional alcoholic beverage) has long been a part of Ladakh’s social and cultural life. “It has historically been prepared for household use during festivals, religious ceremonies, and family gatherings. However, the situation has changed significantly with modernisation, tourism, improved connectivity, and the introduction of commercial varieties of liquor. I have reservations about the argument that increasing licensed liquor outlets will help reduce drug abuse. This is not supported by any evidence. Instead, alcohol and drugs often coexist, making substitution an unreliable public health strategy. Instead, we need a comprehensive approach including awareness, rehabilitation, counselling, quality education, employment opportunities, mental health support, and youth engagement,” he explained.

However, Dr Jamphel highlighted that many regions such as Zangskar have licensed bars but not retail outlets for liquor. “This forces consumers to purchase alcohol at significantly higher prices during family functions. Since alcohol is already legally available through bars and CSD outlets, it is possible that establishing a few regulated shops may improve transparency and affordability instead of substantially increasing accessibility. That said, the debate should move beyond the number of liquor shops and focus on responsible regulation. The challenge is to strike a balance between public health, cultural values, administrative regulation, and economic realities. Any long-term solution must involve coordinated efforts by all stakeholders to promote awareness, responsible consumption, rehabilitation, and preventive education.”

“The challenge is to strike a balance between public health, cultural values, administrative regulation, and economic realities.”

In addition, we discussed these issues with a lawyer to understand this from a legal perspective. Kargil-based Adv Syed Rohollah said that offences related to drugs are governed by the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act), which is one of India’s strictest laws. He added, “The law itself is sufficiently stringent. However, the greater challenge lies in its implementation through professional investigation, timely prosecution, judicial efficiency, and stronger preventive measures.” When asked about the new excise policy, he rejected the proposition for legal and public health reasons. He added, “Alcohol and narcotic drugs are psychoactive substances, and replacing one form of addiction with another cannot be a sustainable solution. Public policy should be guided by evidence, constitutional principles, and the objective of protecting public health rather than the assumption that alcohol can substitute illicit drugs. Instead, we need stronger enforcement against drug trafficking, improved de-addiction and rehabilitation services, public awareness, and measures to address the underlying social and economic causes of substance abuse.”

Adv. Rohollah explained that while the government has the legal authority to frame and implement excise regulations, these decisions must remain fair, transparent, reasonable, and consistent with constitutional principles. He said, “Policies about alcohol should balance administrative and economic considerations with public health, social harmony, and concerns of local communities. Public apprehensions should be addressed through meaningful dialogue and evidence-based policymaking rather than being ignored.” In this regard he said that legal remedies are available by affected groups to approach the courts if they can demonstrate that a policy violates constitutional or legal rights. However, he added, “The courts generally do not interfere with government policies due to public disagreement. Judicial intervention is usually warranted only where a policy is shown to be arbitrary, discriminatory, mala fide (in bad faith), disproportionate, or inconsistent with constitutional or statutory provisions.”

Finally, we also spoke with youth from Leh and Kargil. They identified peer pressure, unemployment, stress, curiosity, lack of awareness, and easy access to intoxicating substances as major factors contributing to the problem. They observed that many young people resort to drugs to cope with personal difficulties, loneliness, family issues, and uncertainty. They also highlighted the influence of social media, changing lifestyles, and the lack of recreational opportunities as factors that increase the vulnerability of youth to substance abuse.

When asked about the Excise Policy, many of them expressed concern that increasing the number of liquor outlets could adversely affect the youth. They acknowledged that the policy may help regulate alcohol sales and generate revenue but expressed concern that greater accessibility could encourage higher alcohol consumption and increase the risk of addiction, particularly among vulnerable youth. They therefore stressed the importance of strict regulation, effective age verification, and sustained public awareness if the policy is implemented.

One of them said, “Regulated alcohol sales may curb black-market activities to an extent but expanding alcohol access will not address drug addiction. It could led to additional challenges, including alcohol dependence, health complications, family conflicts, and road accidents. Drug abuse requires a collective effort from society with regular awareness programmes, counselling and mental health support, sports and cultural activities, skill development initiatives, and greater employment opportunities for young people.

There is widespread consensus that addiction is not merely a law-and-order issue but a complex public health challenge. The solutions too need to be multi-pronged and combine prevention, early intervention, accessible mental healthcare, rehabilitation, family support, and community participation. With timely action and sustained collaboration among all stakeholders, Ladakh can build a more resilient society where young people are supported, addiction is treated with compassion and evidence-based care, and recovery remains an achievable reality.

Personal account: Struggle with addiction

We spoke to a youth who was addicted to drugs and has successfully overcome it. He said, “My addiction started with curiosity and the influence of my friends. I used to spend time with friends who would regularly use drugs. They often described the experience as a way to feel numb and temporarily escape their problems. After listening to their conversations, I became curious, and I eventually decided to experiment with drugs. What started as a single trial gradually developed into a habit and eventually into addiction.” He explained that he never purchased drugs himself or knew where they came from. Whenever his friends invited him, he would join them without questioning the source or availability of the substances. Looking back, he realised how easily casual social interactions can lead someone into substance dependence.
When he eventually decided to quit, he discovered that overcoming addiction involved more than resisting the substance itself. He said, “One of the greatest obstacles was the social environment surrounding me. Instead of encouraging my decision, some friends would mock my attempts to stop, tell me that I would never succeed and would inevitably return to drug use. Such discouragement weakened my confidence and, on several occasions, contributed to relapse.”
Reflecting on his recovery, he emphasised that people struggling with addiction need support rather than condemnation. He said that many individuals avoid seeking professional help because they fear being judged or stigmatised by society. He added that encouragement from family members, friends, and the community can play a decisive role in helping individuals overcome addiction.
When asked about drug-control policies, he said that strict restrictions alone may not be sufficient to address the problem and argued that prohibition can sometimes increase curiosity among young people. In his opinion, governments should study the approaches adopted by countries that have successfully reduced drug dependence and place greater emphasis on public awareness, preventive education, counselling, rehabilitation, and long-term support for those affected by addiction. He said that a regulated approach to less harmful substances, combined with education, counselling, and medical support, may be more effective than relying solely on prohibition.
Describing his recovery process, he explained that the process to quit was gradual. He reduced his drug consumption step by step until he was eventually able to stop completely. Whenever cravings became intense, he would consciously remind himself of his reasons to quit and deliberately avoided the people and environments that had previously encouraged his drug use. The turning point was when he started noticing the severe effects of addiction on his physical health. He was losing weight, becoming physically weak, and realised that continued drug use was seriously damaging his body. These health concerns strengthened his determination to overcome his addiction. He believes that addiction can affect anyone, regardless of background, but recovery is possible with determination, appropriate treatment, and sustained social support. He stressed that public policy should balance enforcement with rehabilitation, ensuring that individuals struggling with addiction receive hope, counselling, psychiatric care, and opportunities for reintegration into society. He concluded by emphasising that addiction is a treatable condition and that people should be encouraged—not judged—to seek help, as recovery is achievable with the right support system.

By Towha Yaseen and Thupstan Tsewang

Towha Yaseen and Thupstan Tsewang are a part of the editorial team at Stawa.

Why we need EVS in Ladakh’s schools

Posted on by The stawa team

The recent transition of government schools from J&K BOSE to the CBSE curricula marks a significant step towards standardising education in the Union Territory of Ladakh. However, the lack of a dedicated environment science (EVS) subject in the CBSE curriculum poses a big challenge for students, subject teachers and society as a whole. This change not only impacts the quality of education but also undermines the efforts to build an environmentally literate society and undermines the government’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework. The absence of EVS significantly impacts ecologically-sensitive regions like Ladakh where environmental consciousness is not just an academic course but a survival imperative.

In my opinion, environmental science is the foundation for nurturing environmentally-literate minds. It instils concern and sensitivity about the environment in young minds from the very beginning of their lives in school. In turn they grow into sensible and nature conscious adults who act as environmental stewards. In an era defined by climate crises, biodiversity loss, and pollution, EVS equips students with the knowledge to understand ecological systems, sustainable practices, and their role in protecting the planet.

More specifically, Ladakh, which is one of the most sensitive and fragile ecological zones in the world with its unique landscape and biodiversity, is disproportionately affected by climate change. For Ladakhis, environmental stewardship is not a choice but a necessity ingrained in their way of life. Thus, the lack of EVS in the CBSE curriculum undermines this sense of urgency. In turn, Ladakhi students, who will inherit this vulnerable landscape, are being denied the tools to understand and address these challenges. The absence of EVS in school curricula risks creating a generation of disconnected students from the region’s fragility and sensitivity, which could accelerate its ecological collapse.

Key topics like conservation, waste management, renewable energy, and climate change are not abstract concepts but real-world issues that future generations must understand and address. Removing EVS deprives students of critical literacy in a field directly tied to their survival and well-being. Moreover, EVS fosters interdisciplinary learning. It bridges geography, biology, chemistry, and social sciences, while also encouraging students to think more holistically. It cultivates problem-solving skills, empathy for nature, and civic responsibility in young minds. These are qualities that are essential for building a sustainable society.

It is ironic that on the one hand global leaders and climate activists emphasise the urgency of climate action. And yet, on the other hand, policymakers and people who develop and frame school education curriculum are paradoxically downplaying the role of environmental science and environmental literacy. It’s like organising a green conference for carbon neutrality by using hundreds of flights, lavish hotels and energy intensive venues, which significantly increases the carbon emissions. Likewise people are blamed for causing climate change with their lifestyle choices even as students in schools are deprived of environmental education.

It is possible that the people who make decisions and develop curricula at Central Board for School Education think that other subjects such as biology and geography cover these topics. However, at the senior secondary level, EVS offers a more dedicated focus, understanding and builds a rational bonding of students and the environment. Integrating it with other subjects might dilute the message and effectiveness in the real world.

Students are in their adolescence in the secondary and senior secondary level and are more likely to be drawn towards modern, lavish and carbon-intensive lifestyles. They are living in an age in which lavish, extravagant lifestyles are superficially attractive and aligned with aspirational social status. Therefore they might prioritise things that are trendy and give them a false sense of satisfaction and belongingness to their peers. In such a situation where people value such standards and lifestyles, why should they care about the environment? Without a proper formal environmental education, how could we blame them of being careless and negligent of the environment and the impact of their choices? Their present choices and environmentally irresponsible habits will have long-term impacts in the future. Therefore an introduction to the importance of the environment is important for students at their age to help them connect with nature and understand its importance to their lives. Through this subject, they can understand and realise that sustainability does not mean one has to abandon modernity. Instead, one needs to redefine it to include environmental processes in our decision-making. This helps them realise that lavish lifestyles are not desirable in a world threatened with environmental collapse.

Since CBSE recognises the value of subjects such as home science, fashion design, music, beauty and wellness, yoga etc, then why not environmental science? This is a discipline that is critical to the survival of humanity and other life-forms. If yoga nurtures physical and mental wellness and music fosters creativity and cultural preservation, then EVS teaches harmony between humans and nature, without which there can be no creativity or cultural value. Without pure and unpolluted air, the breathing exercises done in yoga are futile. It’s a call for parity. This contradiction is not to diminish these subjects but to demand balance, equity and fairness.

Without a structured EVS curriculum, students are deprived of opportunities to engage with pressing environmental issues and they graduate without understanding their ecological footprint. Ladakh is a rural, ecologically vulnerable region where livelihoods are dependent on natural resources and such a gap in the education system can be catastrophic. It also dissuades students from opting for a career in the environmental sector. The absence of this subject at the secondary level creates an uncertainty in the minds of hundreds of students who have dedicated years to master the subject. In addition, the absence of EVS demoralises skilled professionals and wastes human resources such as in-service EVS lecturers, who are frustrated as they are compelled to teach subjects in which they have no expertise. It is also disrespectful of their subject specialisation.

Environmental education is also a global and national priority. India has committed to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals including SDGs 3, 6, 7, 13, 14 and 15, which can only be achieved through imparting environmental education to students. EVS aligns very well with national initiatives such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Shakti Abhiyan and renewable energy campaigns. Carbon neutrality in Ladakh was envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and it aims at restructuring development activities to minimise greenhouse gas emissions. This vision can only be achieved if the local populace is environmentally educated. This can be done only through their school education. By omitting EVS in schools, we undermine the government’s efforts of meeting the SDGs as well as the vision of making ‘carbon neutrality’ in Ladakh. The National Education Policy, 2020 also emphasises environmental awareness and critical thinking, and EVS is an ideal subject for it.

A lot of effort has been made to introduce this important subject in the CBSE curriculum at the secondary level in different ways but there has been no positive response so far. We, as lecturers of EVS in Ladakh, took up this issue with the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, former Member of Parliament, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, and the two LAHDCs but no one has been able to re-introduce environment sciences in the curriculum. We once again appeal to all authorities to reinstate EVS in Ladakh’s school curricula—the future of our planet depends on it. Let’s not teach our children to breathe deeply through yoga while ignoring the polluted air they inhale. Let’s not teach them to sing the music of rivers, while those rivers are dry and let’s not teach them about a glacier trek while those glaciers continue to disappear.

Editor’s note: We have withheld the identity of the writer(s) to protect them from any potentially negative reactions and to focus attention to the issue they have raised.

Life in the Anthropocene

Posted on by The stawa team

Recently, there was an announcement over an FM radio channel that the authorities in Ladakh have issued an order to restrict the movement of ‘stray domestic animals’ on the streets of Leh town. The justification is that they pose a threat to the movement of vehicles, especially ones related to tourism. This reminded me of the way India is portrayed in western films, which often include scenes with stray cows wandering the streets. This seems rather clichéd and inaccurate. Though this imagery is exaggerated, it does have a grain of truth. It seems to depict a developing India. Although their intention is to introduce some humour, this image does raise the question on why stray animals are on the streets!

Of late, the streets of Leh too resemble that of the rest of the country. Over the last five years, we are observing many animals, especially donkeys and cows, on the roads of Leh town. This can be for two reasons: Either they don’t have a place to be in or we are intruding into their spaces. For me, the latter seems very likely.

Imagine being an animal in Leh. Say, a cow, donkey or a dog about say five years back. There were dedicated spaces for animals everywhere where they could graze or rest. They were village commons and served as green corridors along Tokpos (streams) and Yuras (water channels). During summers, when the Lorapa system (field guarding system) was active, anyone could graze animals in these spaces as long as they had people herding the livestock. Most of these spaces have vanished over the last five to ten years and transformed into enclosed structures. Similar spaces that were called Charakhas were also village commons and have now been turned into community spaces and halls for social gatherings. We now have a community hall at every corner of Leh town, which may not always be the wisest use of resources. The Chhu-lams have been converted to concrete footpaths, roads for motor vehicles, or tiled surfaces. Water channels have been reinforced with concrete, which does not blend with nature or look appealing. As a result, no vegetation grows there anymore and there is nothing for animals to eat.

Like humans, animals too don’t like being in captivity. My family owned donkeys, cows, dZos until 10 years back. We also had goats and sheep until some 30 years back. Now we only have cows. We lost one cow to a road accident, which we deduced based on its injuries. We lost another one to electrocution in 2023. That is when I discovered that this is a common occurrence during the rainy season. I have heard that Power Distribution Department does provide monetary compensation for lives lost.

Our donkeys would vanish for months and then return home when it was cold outside. At other times, they would return home to give birth and once the foal was able to stand, and barely walk, they would vanish once again. This means these animals not only need food but also require freedom, security and love. Their sense of being is as strong as humans. We have an urban and modern life for now. We are enjoying high-speed 100mbps internet and milking cows by hand at the same time. Many families who own land in Leh still cultivate vegetables using organic methods and their sons and daughters drive their produce in modern cars for sale in Leh market.

Coming back to animals on the streets, we need to remember that animal rights extend beyond the prevention of physical harm. It encompasses the right to live without unnecessary interference in their natural behaviour. It is our duty to protect them, maintain speed limits especially on rural roads and create public awareness on these issues. By acknowledging their rights and adopting steps to minimise negative impacts, we can have a more harmonious coexistence between humans and animals to nurture our shared environment. Many humans are aggressive and hostile towards animals such as dogs based on their perceptions, prejudices, and fear. This in turn, makes the dogs suspicious and hostile towards humans. In this regard, the registration of pets like dogs with the authorities is a good idea to keep a watch on their health and vaccination status. However, charging a fee might discourage some people from keeping pets or registering them.

Animal rearing and farming are inter-related. They play a crucial role in providing food security, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and should be prioritised over building hotels and guesthouses on agricultural land. Agriculture not only nourishes society but also contributes significantly to public health and the prevention of lifestyle diseases. Agriculture is the backbone of food production, providing essential staples like grains, fruits, vegetables, and livestock products. Encouraging farming ensures a steady food supply. Such produce are rich in essential nutrients and promote a balanced diet and prevent malnutrition. A diet centred around locally grown foods contributes to better health. Farm-fresh, unprocessed foods are a cornerstone of preventing lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. These conditions are often linked to diets high in processed and fast foods.

Agriculture also generates income and employment opportunities for rural communities, helping reduce poverty and improve the livelihoods of countless individuals. Farming supports diverse ecosystems and provides essential habitats for various species. While tourism and hospitality have a role to play, we must prioritise the long-term well-being of society by encouraging responsible farming and food production. Balancing these needs can promote healthier communities, reduce the burden of lifestyle diseases, and secure the future of our food supply. Farming and animal rearing are sustainable businesses unlike hotel and guesthouses. The adoption of a rule that animals will not be allowed to roam on streets, even if it is justified in the basis of them disturbing traffic or dirtying the streets, is counterproductive. We have to find a way to coexist. Such laws may discourage people from rearing animals or keeping pets in their house, which in turn may undermine agricultural practices in the long-term.

By Dr. Spalchen Gonbo

Dr Spalchen Gonbo is a Paediatrician based in Ladakh

The arrogant Ladakhi: Myth or reality?

Posted on by The stawa team

Tourism has emerged as the backbone of Ladakh’s economy over the last few decades. Hoteliers, guest-house owners, shopkeepers, antique-dealers, pony-men, guides, taxi drivers and a significant section of society depend on tourism for their livelihood. There has been a dramatic growth in tourism over the last decade and a half. This is reflected in the mushrooming of hotels and guest houses and an increase in the number of commercial vehicles. This has made tourism in Ladakh a fairly tough and competitive business sector.

In 2022, more than 500,000 tourists visited Ladakh, which marks the highest number of visitors in a year so far. However, the number of tourists has fallen to less than half that number, and as summer winds down the tourist season is also about to end. As a result of this downturn, many hotels have closed early this year and many hoteliers have discharged their staff members or limited the number of hotel staff. Initially, people solely blamed the cancellation of Go Air flights and the resulting increase in airfares to Leh for the downturn. However, even after airfares decreased the number of tourists in Ladakh remained low. This resulted in anxiety among people in the tourism sector. Many people started arguing that Ladakh is not a sustainable tourism destination. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that there are many factors that have caused the downturn in tourism. We need to identify these reasons, analyse them and introspect over them.

Most visitors perceive Ladakh primarily as a tourist destination. The dominant perception is that Ladakh is an expensive destination, especially in terms of transportation. I have heard people comment that for the amount of money required to visit Ladakh one can travel to an international destination such as Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

Many people have enjoyable holidays in Ladakh but there are many others who have had bad experiences while travelling in the region. This does not mean that the people in the tourism sector are bad. In fact, most people are polite, honest, and sensible people. I remember an incident that took place in 2021. A Ladakhi taxi driver found a mobile phone somewhere in Changthang. He along with a friend traced the owner of the phone to his address in Mumbai. The phone contained important personal data and information. The owner of the phone was happy and relieved to get the phone back. He offered the taxi driver Rs 50,000 for his efforts and honesty. However, the latter refused and finally accepted Rs 10,000 as the person insisted on giving him some sort of reward.

However, the misbehaviour, greed, arrogance and conduct of a few people in Ladakh gives the whole region a bad name. For instance, the number of tourists doubled in 2022 as compared to preceding years and many people expected this to remain stable for the next few years. Some decided to take advantage of this. I have seen some hoteliers who increased the cost of food at their restaurants, some even doubling it over existing rates, without necessarily improving the menu. Travel agencies who use these hotels for clients were confused and irritated by this sudden increase in rates.

I have also heard reports that some proprietors at Pangong-tso would pretend that their tents were fully occupied even for clients who had pre-booked tents through their agency. It is difficult to sleep in the open at an altitude of 12,000 feet above mean sea level. These tented accommodations are generally priced at Rs 5,000 per night. However, these unscrupulous proprietors would claim they were full to push the price up and the tourists were desperate enough to pay Rs 10,000 a night for a tent. The clients complained to the agency on their return and the agency in turn cancelled future night stay at these establishments at Pangong-tso. Thus, these proprietors had to pay a high price for their greed and dishonesty.

Similarly, many taxi drivers removed the luggage carrier from their vehicles to reduce its loading capacity. In addition, they would only take four passengers even though the administration had permitted them to ferry six passengers at a time. In addition, many drivers were reluctant to pay the customary commission given to hoteliers. Furthermore, many taxi drivers are hesitant to take clients for local sightseeing around Leh town as they earn more for trips to Nubra and Pangong-tso. Consequently, those who do agree for local sightseeing trips have started charging more than the prescribed rate.

I have heard of an incident where a taxi driver charged a couple INR 2,000 for the journey from Leh airport to their hotel located 4 km away. He took them to their hotel through a roundabout route. The couple later discovered that the trip should have cost them Rs 500. I have also heard some hotel owners speak about how some drivers complain that their clients take “too many photographs” on the way and waste their time. There was also one incident where a driver insisted on smoking cigarettes in the vehicle in the presence of his passengers.

Such experiences create a very bad impression of Ladakh and its people. Most successful businesspersons would agree that honesty, uprightness and mutual trust are prerequisites for success. This is also reflected in popular culture with the fable that warns us against killing the ‘goose that lays golden eggs’. The fable talks about a greedy person killing the goose to collect all the golden eggs at one go to become wealthy in an instant. The fable ends in certain doom for such a greedy person. We must pay heed to the wisdom of this fable.

Thus, one should resist any temptation to fleece tourists. In the long term, this will certainly ruin tourism as a whole. In addition, it will also have adverse impacts on society. Thus, exorbitant airfares may have contributed to the downturn in tourism but it is imperative that we also reflect on our own weaknesses and shortcomings. Self-reflection and constructive criticism are important qualities for long-term success.

Prior to independence, Ladakh was open for tourism and in the summers, a limited number of tourists, around 200-300, would visit the region. They would stay in the region for longer periods than tourists nowadays and later write about their experiences. There are hundreds of travelogues written by these travellers through the 19th and early 20th Centuries, which provide us with a wealth of insights into Ladakh in that period and the experiences of these travellers.These travelogues invariably praise Ladakhis for their honesty, simplicity and truthfulness. These writers mentioned that despite material poverty, pony-men, porters, cooks etc. were content and did not try to extort more money from travellers.

As mentioned earlier, Ladakh is already an expensive destination with respect to transportation and stay. Greed and opportunism makes some people make it even more expensive by unilaterally increasing their rates for taxi and stay. This causes unnecessary unpleasantness and harms Ladakh. It is thus not surprising when we hear tourists speaking about ‘arrogant’ people they encounter during their trip. For instance, I remember a Ladakhi student telling me about someone once asking them about their native place. When the student replied, “Ladakh”, the person replied curtly, “They looted us!” Furthermore, there are several videos online about people sharing their negative experiences in Ladakh. I remember one where a man is pointing towards a barren mountain and telling viewers that there is nothing to see in Ladakh. He told his viewers not to waste their time and money by visiting Ladakh. On seeing the video, my first reaction was that this man must have suffered some bad experiences in Ladakh and the video was his way of indirectly venting his frustration.

Unfortunately, the problem is not confined to the relationship between tourists and tourism-related personnel. There are many problems within the tourism sector too. Hoteliers report that some travel agents are notorious for not paying their dues to the hotels they use. I have heard hoteliers joke that it is easier to run a hotel than to recover money from some travel agents! Many travel agencies do not pay their dues in time even after repeated demands. Some do not pay at all and as a result lose credibility with the hotels who then refuse to provide them with rooms. Similarly, there was high demand for taxis in 2022 and there are some reports of travel agents cheating taxi drivers, especially non-Ladakhi drivers who were roped in to meet the demand. Such people are a menace to society and they give Ladakh a bad name.

I have also heard local shopkeepers and vegetable vendors complain that some hoteliers refuse to pay them on time for various essential commodities and vegetables purchased from them on credit. One vegetable vendor spoke about a specific hotelier who had outstanding dues of over INR 10 lakh (INR 1 million) and was showing no signs of clearing any of it!

Thus, when people argue that tourism in Ladakh is not sustainable I cannot help but think of such incidents that make it even more unsustainable. We must not forget that economic cycles are temporary while a bad business culture can cause permanent damage. I think good conduct can go a long way in making tourism more sustainable. In this regard, social leaders, business people, community leaders, politicians, media-persons and members of civil society must come forward to help reflect, identify such challenges and instil better practices in our everyday lives.

Editor’s note: We have withheld the identity of the writer on request.

The state of ice hockey in Ladakh

Posted on by The stawa team

Each winter people in Ladakh remove two things from their storeroom. The first is the traditional ‘Bukhari’ to stay warm and the other is a pair of ice skates to use on frozen ponds and lakes. Ghulam Mustafa, who started playing ice hockey in 2010 explained, “I saw my sister with a pair of skates for the first time when I was 12-years-old. She had received it from a Canadian woman. I remember using her skates secretly. When I put them on and blissfully glided on the ice, I forgot all my worries. It did not feel like I was skating for the first time. A year later my father got me my own skates.”

Ice hockey has emerged as one of the most popular sports among Ladakhi youth. This is evident in the recent victory of the Ladakhi women’s team in the ninth national ice hockey tournament held in Kaza, Himachal Pradesh from 15 to 20 January, 2022. Players from Ladakh have represented India at the international level since 2009 and 95% of India’s men’s team is from Ladakh. On the other hand, 100% of the Indian women’s ice hockey team is from Ladakh. They have been representing India in the IIHF Women’s Challenge Cup of Asia Division-I since 2016. The men’s team has participated in Challenge Cup of Asia (Division 1) in Thailand 2015, Kyrgyzstan 2016, Kuwait 2017 (silver medal) and Malaysia 2018. The women’s team won bronze in the Women’s Challenge Cup of Asia 2019 (Abu Dhabi).

Ghulam Mustafa described his experiences at a development camp in Korea, “I was with players from around the world. It made me realise that a boy from a remote place can also compete with them. All we need is dedication and persistence. I later represented India as part of the U-20 team and hearing the national anthem was the proudest moment of my life.” This was echoed by Chamba Tsetan, who has also represented India. He said, “I am proud of being able to represent India. In addition, we have also been coaching children as part of the ‘Learn to Play’ programme for the last four years. We have been able to coach more than a thousand children.”

There have been a lot of changes with regard to ice hockey in the last few years. On 5 May, 2015, the Ice Hockey Association of India became an affiliated member of the Indian Olympic Association. In September 2020, ice hockey was included in the list of sports that qualify for appointment of meritorious sportspersons in government jobs. Thus, one can now play ice hockey for passion and as a career option!

The journey of ice hockey players has not been easy as there have been many challenges. While there has been some progress on addressing these challenges over the last few years, players are still facing many challenges. It was difficult to source equipment and generate financial resources as there was limited support from the government. In addition, the players struggled with the lack of an international standard stadium in Ladakh and the short playing season that prevented players from achieving excellence. Sonam Angmo, who has been part of the women’s team since 2016, said, “The biggest challenge we face is the lack of basic infrastructure, access to equipment and the lack of knowledge about the game.”  Chamba Tsetan, who has been a member of the men’s national team since 2015, added, “In addition, we need a rink where we can practice throughout the year as our playing season is far too short”

Former Indian ice hockey player and coach of UT Ladakh’s B team, Zia Ur Rehman Mir described the challenges they faced in playing ice hockey. “When we started playing ice hockey, there were no coaches, no equipment, and no infrastructure. The Himalayan Sports and Cultural Development Organisation in Drass started bringing international coaches who helped us access equipment and knowledge about building and maintaining rinks and play strategies.”

The first captain of the Indian ice hockey men’s team and the current Vice President of Ladakh Winter Sports Club, Tundup Namgial has witnessed these changes. He said, “The Canadian embassy team has been visiting Ladakh since 2002 to play the Indo-Canadian friendship cup in Leh every year. We have learnt so many things from them. Other well-wishers have sourced equipment and donated international standard sideboards for tournaments. We also organise village coaching camps and provide equipment to them.”

The Kargil Ice and Snow Sport Club has been doing similar work in Kargil district to promote the sport. General Secretary, Aman Ali Khan said, “There was limited awareness about ice hockey in Kargil till the early 2000s. Its popularity grew after 2004 after we formed Kargil Ice and Snow Sports Club to organise events and camps. In 2006-07, we approached the then CEC of LAHDC, Kargil, Asgar Ali Karbalai to support us to organise the CEC Ice Hockey Championship Cup in Kargil. Since then, we have been hosting this tournament every year. We also host a junior championship for young children with support from the police just as we organise the Sadbhavana Cup in collaboration with the Indian Army.”

Unfortunately, ice hockey remained male-centric in Ladakh through these early years. This changed with the creation of the Ladakh Women’s Ice Hockey Foundation (LWIHF) in 2015. Noor Jahan, the goalkeeper in the Indian women’s ice hockey team, General Secretary of LWIHF and Executive Council Member of the Ice Hockey Association of India spoke about the gender-related challenges faced by women players. She said, “In the past, a lot of people would come to Karzoo dZing and mock us. Now women players have gained respect and recognition. I remember my community opposing the idea of me pursuing this sport.”

The gender bias is still evident in Kargil district in various sports. However, parents have started encouraging their daughters to participate in sports. Different organisations are now actively encouraging and training girls in ice hockey. Imtiyaz Ali Khan of Downhill Kargil said they have been training girls in ice skating and ice hockey. “In 2021, our girls’ team participated in UT and block-level competitions,” he added. Zia Ur Rehman Mir also expressed happiness at the growing participation of girls in winter sports. He said, “Recently we organised a national-level ice hockey camp for women in Drass. We were surprised with the turnout. Through the camp. We selected 20 girls for advanced training in Kaza.”

The government too has increased support for sports and athletes since Ladakh became a UT in 2019. District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Leh, Tsering Tashi provided an overview of these initiatives. “Firstly, we are purchasing hockey equipment for players from UT Ladakh. We hope to provide players with a complete kit soon. This will encourage our teams to participate in national-level tournaments. We have also been supporting their participation in Khelo India Ice Hockey tournaments.” The department has been organising tournaments such as Khelo India Ladakh Winter Games Ice Hockey Championships, Zanskar Winter Games and Youth Festival, Lt Governor Cup Ice Hockey Championship, etc. It has also been developing ice hockey rinks in all sub divisions of Ladakh and constructing/repairing dZings in all blocks. It is unclear what designs are being used for these rinks as the department claims that they are building them as per requirements, which will gradually be upgraded in due course. When asked about the international level stadium, Tsering Tashi said, “Due to some technical problems, the department has not been able to complete the stadium. We have finished the tendering process for the roof of the stadium and work on the mechanical chilling plant will start soon. Hopefully the ice hockey rinks in Leh and Kargil will be completed by 2022-23.”  Youth and Sports Department, Kargil has also been providing equipment to players at the block level and constructing rinks. However, some like Aman Ali claimed that the 27 ice hockey rinks across Kargil district do not adhere to any approved design and technical specifications. He added, “We need to use a standardised design for such rinks.”

Zia Ur Rehman Mir stressed on the need for developing an indoor rink. He said, “Our rinks are seasonal and outdoor. In Kargil, we receive a lot of snowfall. We have to spend two to three days to clear snow from these rinks by which time there is more snowfall. As a result, our youth do not get time to play games. We enjoy natural advantage of improved stamina as we live in a high altitude region. However, we need more time to practice and hone our skills.”

He added, “Kargil has natural advantages that make it ideal for winter sports. When Ladakh was part of the erstwhile J&K state, Kashmir Sports Council had decided to develop a winter sports headquarter in Kargil. After Ladakh became a UT, we approached the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh with this idea. If we invest in infrastructure, Ladakh can become a major winter sport destination while also generating income and employment. Winter sport athletes from India spend a lot of money travelling to Europe for practice. We could provide them with the same services in Ladakh.”

However, this will require investment in infrastructure at the grassroots along with a robust framework to manage these activities. For instance, Aman Ali proposed that Ladakh should have its own sport council so the sport clubs and organisations in the region could be affiliated with it. In addition, various stakeholders suggested that UT-level competitions should be held on a rotational basis between Leh and Kargil districts to facilitate all round development and cohesiveness and inclusiveness in the region.

By Karuna Chhimed and Manzoor Hussain

Karuna Chhimed is currently pursuing a master’s in linguistics from Delhi University.

Manzoor Hussain is currently pursuing a master’s in Hindi from IGNOU.

The challenge of studying during a pandemic

Posted on by The stawa team

We asked numerous students about their experience of learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their responses included “It is like a very long holiday”, “I miss school”, “It is a total waste of time”, “We were unable to learn through online classes” and “It is becoming very difficult for us.” July 2021 marks one year and five months since school and college students in Ladakh have been at home. The COVID-19 pandemic has gripped the world and students have suffered the most as they struggle to cope with ‘home-school online education’.

According to data from Directorate of School Education, UT of Ladakh there are 904 government schools in Ladakh (546 in Kargil and 358 in Leh) with 25,786 enrolled students (17,210 in Kargil and 8,576 in Leh). In addition, there are 113 private schools in Ladakh (67 in Kargil and 46 in Leh) with 29,059 enrolled students (13,041 in Kargil and 16,018 in Leh). Thus, there are 1,017 government and private schools catering to 54,845 children across Ladakh. In addition, many students are pursuing various higher education programmes in various institutions in Ladakh and outside. This means that a large number of students have been studying from home for more than a year. Some government and private schools did open briefly in 2021. 

Studying online

Student life has undergone a dramatic change through the pandemic. Times have changed from ‘not using a smartphone’ till a certain age, to “religiously using one” to cope with academic work. Many students have created a self-study routine that is conducive to their learning with a parent or relative supervising their academic work. However, all students seem to be facing some challenge or the other including digital exclusion, mental health, etc.

Online learning has been exerting economic stress on many families. Each student needs a smartphone, tablet or laptop to participate in online classes. These can cost anywhere from INR 6,000 for a basic smartphone to INR 25,000 for a basic laptop. In addition, one has to pay for internet access. These expenditures are beyond the reach of many families. 

Similarly, parents with government jobs are still going to work and have little time to oversee their children’s academic work. Thus, these students depend on an elder sibling or a close relative for supervision. Many students are forced to work without supervision and do self-study with occasional checks. Even parents who work from home or stay home all day face challenges in supervising their children. A parent of two children who are studying in the 4th and 5th grade in Lamdon School, Leh and Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV), Choglamsar said, “Since we are not educated, we face a lot of problem teaching and supervising their studies. Sometimes, they would miss homework or submission would be delayed as we are not able to use a smartphone. It took us a lot of time and effort to find someone to teach our children.”

In contrast, other parents have coped well, especially those who are educated. With two sons in primary school, a couple described how they divide time between their work and chores to supervise their children’s work. However, they admitted that their days have become rather hectic. All these factors have had an impact on the quality of education received by students during the pandemic. Many parents also voiced concern on how teachers are coping with online education. When asked about this, most teachers said it has been a challenge. Some mentioned that they spend a lot getting their students together for a class, especially when students struggle to log in or are unable to follow the teacher. 

Schools are aware of these challenges. However, there is pressure to complete the syllabus, which forces many teachers to follow up on the work sent to the students. This in turn reflects on the quality of education and learning. A principal of a school mentioned that younger students who do not have a fixed syllabus are forgetting how to read and write. This is very concerning as this may result in a prolonged delay in reading and writing skills amongst students. Furthermore, there is variability amongst teachers in terms of engagement, preparation and follow up, especially since the digital medium is relatively new for everyone.

While college students seem to be better adapted to using technology, many report that they are not able to cope with online learning and prefer offline classes. When asked about specific challenges, these students mentioned difficulty in focusing and limited time to understand, write notes and clarify doubts. Several students reported that they have started spending time on social media and video games instead of studying.

Gulzar Hussain, a student of Delhi University said, “It will take time for students to get used to the new mode of education. This mode is very different from offline classes. Many students are not taking this seriously. I had taught a student in Kargil last year and he used to be very punctual and curious. Now after studying online for a year, he no longer seems interested in studies.”

Teachers too have reported that many students are struggling with online learning. Masooma Batool, a government teacher in Kargil, said, “Last year when the lockdown was eased and the schools were allowed to open, I observed that students were clueless about their studies. It is not possible to have one-to-one interactions online.”

This was echoed by Professor at Government Degree College, Drass, Shujat Ali who added that learning must not stop despite various challenges. He said, “Initially, everyone hoped to continue offline teaching as online classes did not seem to help. In a month or two, everyone realised that we have to adapt to online learning. The teachers and students who were initially reluctant have now started taking interest in online classes and enrolments have increased. We have to accept new modes of learning and motivate our students. Online learning has gone from being a secondary resource to the primary channel for learning. There are many benefits of online learning including improved accessibility to resources and reduction of overall costs. We can improve the quality of our education by harnessing technology appropriately.”

Some students feel that the pandemic has forced them to learn new skills. One such student, Sabika Khatoon said. “Nothing can replace school! However, online teaching has forced us to learn skills to navigate the digital world and enabled us to access educational resources online.”

Digital exclusion?

As the pandemic spread in early 2020, many parents took their children back to their villages. Unfortunately, there is limited or no internet connectivity in many rural areas in Ladakh. This meant that initially many students were unable to participate in online classes. Since then, reports have emerged of students having to walk (or have parents drive them in some cases) to a location where they can get internet connectivity.

In many cases, parents faced a bigger challenge when they had more than one child but only one smartphone in the house. In other case, there have been instances where students have internet connectivity but their teacher was living in a remote village that did not.  

Prof. Shujat Ali identified these as major challenges. “In addition to internet connectivity, many families are not able to afford have the necessary gadgets. The government is the facilitator and must provide internet connectivity. Schools and colleges can help identify students who need additional support from the administration.”

This was echoed by Mehboob Ali, Coordinator, Department of Computer and Information Technology at Kargil campus of University of Ladakh. He said, “We call this the age of Information Technology. All our processes are moving online. This is advantageous for its ease and speed. However, we still do not have the required infrastructure in place. Initially, even when we had education material, we did not have a channel to deliver them. When the pandemic started, we were not prepared for online teaching. We have to strengthen our infrastructure and increase IT literacy. Recently, UGC asked all universities to complete 40% of the syllabus online. We cannot tell them this was not done because students did not have internet access.”

One of the upsides of students returning to their villages is that children are spending time outdoors and participating in agricultural practices to learn new skills. Similarly, the time spent with family members has been important too.

Support systems?

Many teachers and parents are tapping online portals for support. The Directorate of School Education, UT of Ladakh has listed links to virtual classes that students can attend. It has also developed a mobile app called DSEL Online Education. We were unfortunately not able to test this app. Similarly, the Ministry of Education, Government of India has also started various initiatives to support students. Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA) is a national platform for classes from 1st to 12th. It has a number of curricula linked to QR-coded Energized Textbooks (ETBs) that can be accessed through a mobile app. Others like 2020 VidyaDaan leverage the content on DIKSHA and allow people to contribute e-learning resources.

In addition, various TV channels have been broadcasting classes for those without internet access. Such programmes are also broadcast on radio, community radio, and podcasts, including initiatives. Some DTH operators have been broadcasting channels dedicated to differently-abled students including programmes using sign language. While most people have appreciated these efforts, others complain about not being able to use them offline, various technical glitches etc.

District Institute for Education Training (DIET), Kargil has launched a YouTube channel, which includes lectures but seems to have attracted a limited viewership. Another popular YouTube channel that was started on 19 March, 2020 by Lecturer’s Forum, Kargil has 3.45k subscribers. In addition, there are some social media channels where children are receiving private lessons. Many are resorting to YouTube videos to understand concepts that are covered in a cursory manner in online classes. For example, Spaldon, a 4th Class student said that she has been struggling with Mathematics and Bodyig as the teacher is often unable to explain all the relevant concepts in their short videos. Many parents are also using paid educational applications. 

While online classes are held of video conferencing platforms, the Department of Education has also been using the television and radio. However, some parents found the latter to be unhelpful as they are barely for an hour a day, lack continuity, and have no clear schedule. One parent explained, “In the first month, they used to announce the subject and class for the following day on Ladakhi news, which was good as students did not have to be glued to the television. However, then it became confusing and there was no clarity on which lessons are going to be broadcast or for what class, with no way of accessing that information.” Some parents claim that most TV lessons have been uploaded on YouTube but not all. Others complained that teachers in the televised classes just write and solve problems without explaining the process. Furthermore, the medium of instruction has also been an issue. A parent explained that children have been requesting their teachers to teach Hindi in Ladakhi. Similarly, electricity is another issue as power supply is often unreliable with day-long power-cuts at times.

Health impacts

In addition to other issues, students and teachers are also struggling to cope with health impacts due to these changes. Many students complain that their eyes burn from constantly staring at a screen. In addition, more attention needs to be given to the psychological well-being of students, teachers and parents. There are many short videos about well-being on the DIKSHA application and there are local programmes on radio and television on mental health. However, we were not able to find any other efforts to address various health issues arising from online education and the uncertainty of the pandemic.

While students are becoming digitally aware, the absence of offline class has a serious impact on the mental health of students. This includes lack of resources, learning capabilities, and a sudden shift from rote learning to on-ground experiential learning at home. Perhaps a survey among various stakeholders will help identify various problems faced by them.

Struggle for survival

While government schools have the support of the administration, many private schools are struggling to survive. This is a serious issue as 53% of students in Ladakh are currently enrolled in a private school. A Principal of a private school spoke on the condition of anonymity, “During the lockdown in 2020, schools were shut from March to September. In this period, most schools collected fees and paid staff wages. However, some parents were unable to pay the fees and this caused problems to the school. I have also heard of some small private schools that collected fees in 2020 but did not pay their staff wages.” We cross-checked this with some other institutions and they mentioned that most operate on a no-profit no-loss basis. “So, when some parents are unable to pay the fees, we have been forced to delay the payment of wages of some staff members,” they explained.

Interventions

Many villages have taken proactive measures to organise community classes for their children. Some student associations in villages like Igoo maintain a library where students can study. In June, the Hon’ble Lieutenant-Governor of Ladakh, R. K. Mathur announced INR 25 lakhs (INR 2.5 million) from the LG Fund to support Gram Panchayats to hold community classes. In addition, district administrations have permitted villages to hold community classes while following COVID-19 SOPs.

Parveen, a volunteer at a community class, said that the only development she has seen in the last year is the installation of a mobile tower by a private company. “Nobody was prepared last year. This year everyone is coming up with solutions to tackle problems such as technology, connectivity, need for supervision etc. In my experience, the students are very eager to learn and parents are often unable to provide them with guidance. The community classes have helped address some of the challenge students are facing but there is urgent need to upgrade educational and healthcare facilities in Ladakh’s villages.” Others too welcomed this step as it would help community members become more aware of the problems faced by their children and the administration and work together to find solutions and help in the overall development of the education system.

Murtaza Khalili, an early advocate of community classes and a Principal at a private school, appreciated this initiative by the government. He said, “Community classes are far better than online classes. However, there is one issue with these classes. They give priority to students of the village or the locality where the classes are being held. This excludes non-Ladakhi settlers and those living in a rented accommodation, the administration needs to look into this issue.” He added that community classes are working more smoothly in rural areas as compared to urban areas.

In an interesting development on 4 June, 2021, the UT administration launched the YounTab Scheme, which has been developed by the Department of Education with technical support from Information Technology Department. Under this scheme, they plan to distribute 12,300 tablets with pre-loaded online and offline content including textbooks, video lectures, and online class applications to government school students from Class 6 to 12.

The tablets were to be distributed in government schools across Ladakh in June and July, 2021. However, sources in the Education Department report that the tablets have not been distributed yet as there were some initial memory issues on the devices while uploading offline content. These tablets are expected to be ready by the end of July after which computer teachers from the Education Department will train one to two teachers from each government school zone. These teachers in turn will train other teachers in their zone on the use of e-resources installed on the tablets. We were not able to confirm this officially. In addition, DIET in Leh and Kargil have been conducting training workshops for teachers on digital learning but details remain sketchy.

By Dr. Rigzin Chodon and Leila Bee

Dr. Rigzin Chodon is an independent researcher.

Leila Bee is a freelance journalist based in Ladakh. She holds a master’s degree in English Literature.

New Delhi Diary-May 2021

Posted on by The stawa team

The 2-H success formula

Watching successful people on TV channels and listening to their ‘secrets’ of success is a great joy. I happened to watch one such person, Ajay Banga, who was born and educated in India and is now a part of the Indian-American community. A Padma Shri awardee for excellence in his work output, he is the Executive Chairman of MasterCard.

Banga talked about what he called the 2-H success formula, which stands for ‘Humility’ and ‘Humour’. Humility, he said, is the real and necessary quality in any person to progress in life. And what is humility? Never to assume that you are better than others, and to remind yourself time and again that there are so many people around you who are far better than you and that you should learn from them. Humour is the ability to laugh at yourself, and to admit that humour alone makes you feel better for any challenging task ahead.

Having said that, one may point out that humility and humour are important factors but not the only ones. There are several other crucial factors for success: A clear vision, diligence, consistency and resilience. But, it is also true that each successful person has their own unique yardstick for success.

The death of a great editor

Anything that happens for the first time in one’s life leaves behind fond memories for a lifetime. For me, one such great memory of decades back happens to be the publication of my first article in The Times of India.

It was Fatima Zakaria, the then Editor of The Sunday Times, who published my article, very prominently on the Opinion Page. And, that made me feel as if I were on cloud nine. The article was on the state of affairs in Ladakh.

I recently received the shocking news that she had passed away at the age of 85. I could not believe this initially. The reality dawned on me when her famous son, Fareed Zakaria, a CNN TV show host, announced that his mother had passed away in Mumbai due to COVID-19 complications.

After completing her studies from the prestigious Yale University in the US, Fatima Zakara went on to become one of India’s leading editors. She also edited The Bombay Times for a brief period and, later, the Taj Magazine of the Taj Group of Hotels.

Her contribution to Indian journalism spanned many decades, which was also recognised by Government of India when it conferred her with the prestigious Padma Shri in 2006. She was liberal, had a great sense for news, and always tried to help budding journalists.

A pleasant summer?

Now that we are in the first month of the peak summer season, one wonders how the season will treat us this time. The very idea of two ‘killer months’ of peak summer (May and June) in the city, before the onset of the monsoon, is rather frightening.

And yet, if one recalls the last winter in the city, when it was not cold at all, one can very well hope for a not-so-deadly summer. Yes, wishful thinking but one never knows! In the last few years, all the four major seasons have been ‘behaving’ strangely. Even the month of April this time was ‘admirably good’ with the temperature never exceeding one’s comfort levels. In a way, the ‘credit’ for all this must go to climate change!

Of course, many of the city’s denizens have already planned to rush to hill stations for some respite, and even a week or two is worth it. But the point is: What about those who can’t afford it and don’t have the facilities to keep themselves cool to preserve their sanity? After all, most of the city’s denizens cannot afford the luxury of air-conditioning.

Tailpiece:

Dad: Son, when I beat you, how do you control your anger?

Son: I start cleaning the toilet.

Dad: How does that satisfy you?

Son: I clean it with your toothbrush!

By P.P. Wangchuk

The author is a New Delhi-based editor-at-large, columnist and professional speaker.

New Delhi Diary-April 2021

Posted on by The stawa team

A new house for Modi
As the new Parliament House nears completion over the next two to three years, several other related projects will also be undertaken. The first ones would be new homes for the Prime Minister and the Vice President near the new Parliament building. Both these houses will be connected with the Parliament House through tunnels. The projects are still in the planning stage and the cost and completion time are not yet known.
Why are there no plans to build a tunnel to connect the President’s house too? Two reasons: First, the President’s house (Rashtrapati Bhavan), is already nearby, and unlike the Vice President and the Prime Minister who have to visit Parliament regularly, the President rarely visits it. The Vice President visits Parliament regularly to chair sessions of the Rajya Sabha.
The tunnels will help avoid traffic jams each time the Vice President or the Prime Minister visits the Parliament House. Currently, their ‘carcades’ bring traffic in the Lutyens’ area to a standstill for hours. Incidentally, very few people know that a tunnel connects the present home of the Prime Minister at 7 Race Course with Safdarjung Airport.

The Bamiyan Buddha comes alive!
One of the Buddha statues, destroyed by the Taliban in March 2001, has come alive through a 3-D projection that glows in the rocky alcove where it used to stand since the Sixth and the Seventh Centuries CE. These ancient statues were the world’s tallest Buddha statues till they were blown up in 2001.

Ladakh Review, one of its kind
When you think of Nawang Tsering Shakspo, the first thing that comes to mind is his annual publication called Ladakh Review. Its seventh volume was recently released by the Hon’ble Lieutenant-Governor of Ladakh at an event in New Delhi. Like previous volumes, this one too provides fascinating accounts of Ladakh and the author. The present volume is partially an autobiography in which the author makes it clear that he remains undaunted despite various challenges he has faced.
Secondly, he has stood by his conviction on the official language for UT Ladakh. All these decades, he has been advocating that ‘Ladakhi’ should be declared as the official language of Ladakh. This is based on sound logic. Both the principal communities of Ladakh speak Ladakhi, and most of them want ‘Ladakhi’ to be declared as the UT’s official language.
I am very happy to agree. Any other name like Bhoti, Bodhi, Tibetan, etc. can become a bone of contention and Ladakh will have no official language for the lack of consensus. Moreover, Ladakh can’t remain united with a ‘divisive’ official language. Therefore, ‘Ladakhi’ is the only language with no religious or communal implications’.

The highly-paid bodyguards
I recently discovered that the bodyguards of Bollywood stars are paid very handsomely. For instance, Shah Rukh Khan pays his bodyguard INR 2.6 crore (260 million) annually. And, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan pay their bodyguards INR 2 crore (20 million) per annum. Among the female actors, Anushka pays the highest (INR 1.2 crore or 120 million) to her bodyguard followed by Deepika and Katrina who pay INR 1 crore (10 million) each.
Why are bodyguards paid such large salaries in this industry? The reasons include that Bollywood stars are high-risk individuals and the bodyguards are highly-trained in martial arts and safeguarding practices.

Tailpiece:
Wife: Did you have your lunch?
Husband: Did you have your lunch?
Wife: I am asking you!
Husband: I am asking you!
Wife: You are copying me?
Husband: You are copying me?
Wife: Okay, then let’s go shopping!
Husband: Yes, yes, I had my lunch!

By P.P. Wangchuk

The author is a New Delhi-based editor-at-large, columnist and professional speaker.