Climate change activist and social reformer Sonam Wangchuk arrived in Mandi-Bharari, located in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, on the 23rd day of his ‘Delhi Chalo Padyatra’. Wangchuk, known for his innovative approaches to climate action, has embarked on a 1,000-kilometer foot march from Ladakh to New Delhi, advocating for greater autonomy for the region under the Indian Constitution.
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) are spearheading a four-point agenda – Statehood for Ladakh, Constitutional protections under the Sixth Schedule, Establishment of a Public Service Commission, and Separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil.
The march, which began on September 1, 2024, aims to urge the central government to include Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule, which would provide special protections and self-governance rights. The activist highlighted the alarming rate at which Himalayan glaciers are melting and warned of a looming climate refugee crisis if urgent action is not taken.
Wangchuk has also been sharing constant updates from the padyatra on his social media accounts – Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and more. In one of his posts, he informed that the padyatra starts as early as 4.45 am to avoid the effects of sweltering heat of the plains on high Himalayan people.
What is the Delhi Chalo Padyatra?
The ‘Delhi Chalo Padyatra,’ organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), seeks to revitalise a four-year-long agitation. Their key demands include statehood for Ladakh, an extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, a streamlined recruitment process with a dedicated public service commission for the region, and separate Lok Sabha seats for the Leh and Kargil districts.
Wangchuk emphasised that this movement is driven by the people and urged the government to address the demands of the Ladakhi community without delay.