Stressing the need on more inter regional interactions in the State, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today appealed student community to help her in this initiative and bring down the differences and misgivings about each other in the people of these regions.Addressing a function after distributing scooties among the meritorious students of Leh district at Eliezan Joldan Memorial College here today, the Chief Minister said the mental distances among the people of various regions of the State need to be bridged to bring them closer to each other. “You are young, our future and without any baggage. Help me in bringing regions and people closer”, she said in her appeal to students.Mehbooba Mufti said recently during a cricket tournament at Srinagar she was happy to see a team from Ladakh. “I wish more and more such interactions by which the young people understand each other’s customs, cultures, needs and problems in a better way,” she said and added that she has travelled frequently to Ladakh region to give them a sense of participation and bring them closer to Srinagar and Jammu.Responding to the demands put forth by the college administration, the Chief Minister assured that steps for setting up a girls hostel in the college would be taken for which she asked the CEC, LAHDC, Leh to look for a nearby piece of land and prepare a project report. She also assured to give a bus to the college students for the easy movement to and from the college.
Mehbooba Mufti assured the students that she has already asked the Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University to take steps to bridge the gap in the academic schedule of students from Ladakh and other parts of the State. She also assured the students to look into their demand of construction of an indoor stadium at Leh, given the harsh climatic conditions in the region.Minister for Cooperatives & Ladakh Affairs, T. Dorjey also addressed the gathering and thanked the Chief Minister for giving proper attention to Ladakh region in terms of progress and development.Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Leh, Dr. Sonam Dawa also addressed the gathering.Executive Councillors, LAHDC, Leh; MP, Thupson Chewang; Deputy Commissioner, Avni Lavassa, officers of district administration and a large number of students were present on the occasion.Earlier, the Chief Minister reached Leh on a two day visit to Ladakh region. She was given a traditional reception at the airport with the presentation of traditional Khattaks.Mehbooba Mufti was received at the airport by Minister for Cooperatives & Ladakh Affairs, T. Dorjey; Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Leh, Dr. Sonam Dawa; Executive Councillors, LAHDC, Leh and other senior civil and police officers.The Chief Minister is scheduled to distribute scooties among the girl students at Kargil in a similar function tomorrow.