Delegations from Choskul Tsogspa Zanskar, educationist Wangmo & outsourced safaiwala/housekeepers call on Hon’ble Lt Governor Brig (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd)

Leh, Feb 13, 2024: A delegation from Choskul Tsogspa Zanskar led by its president, Venerable Mingyur Dorjay, called on the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat. Principal Secretary, Shri Sanjiv Khirwar, IAS; Commissioner/Secretary, Vasanthakumar N, IAS; Deputy Commissioner Leh, Shri Santosh Sukhadeve, IAS and Director, Health Services, Dr Motup Dorje, were in the meeting.
Ven Mingyur apprised the HLG of the Social, Emotional and Ethical Learning (SEE Learning) programme envisioned by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and designed by Emory University in collaboration with leading scholars, scientists, educators and researchers around the world to foster social, emotional and ethical learning in K-12 (kindergarten through High School) classrooms. He requested the HLG to launch and promote SEE Learning in all schools across Ladakh. Ven Mingyur also requested the introduction of the Nalanda tradition of learning in schools.
Shri Khirwar, IAS, informed the HLG about training provided to teachers from Leh and Kargil in SEE Learning. He also informed the HLG about the introduction of the SEE Learning programme in schools in Delhi.
The HLG asked Shri Khirwar, IAS, to check the SEE Learning curriculum in schools in Delhi and prepare a plan accordingly.
Smt Rigzin Wangmo, who has completed Masters in Education from Harvard University, called on the HLG at the LG Secretariat. Principal Secretary, Shri Sanjiv Khirwar, IAS; Commissioner/Secretary, Vasanthakumar N, IAS; Deputy Commissioner Leh, Shri Santosh Sukhadeve, IAS and Director, Health Services, Dr Motup Dorje, were in the meeting.
Smt Wangmo informed the HLG about her enrolment in the Teaching and Teacher Leadership programme at Harvard Graduate School of Education. She also informed the HLG about the inception of the Village Lab Foundation aimed at strengthening villages in Ladakh through an innovative intergenerational education model, turning villages into vibrant hubs of learning and collaboration.
Smt Wangmo informed about her project to establish the first book village of Ladakh. She also informed that tiny libraries would be established across villages at certain places. She further informed about her collaboration with villagers in this regard.
Smt Wangmo requested assistance in the purchase of books and the involvement of the Ladakh Academy of Art Culture and Languages (LAACL) Leh for the purchase of books in vernacular languages.
The HLG appreciated Smt Wangmo’s initiative and asked Deputy Commissioner Leh to provide all possible assistance to her.
A delegation comprising contractual/outsourced safaiwala working in the Health Department led by Smt Tahira Banoo called on the HLG at the LG Secretariat. Principal Secretary, Shri Sanjiv Khirwar, IAS; Commissioner/Secretary, Vasanthakumar N, IAS; Deputy Commissioner Leh, Shri Santosh Sukhadeve, IAS and Director, Health Services, Dr Motup Dorje, were in the meeting.
Smt Tahira informed the HLG that around 12 outsourced safaiwala engaged under the National Health Mission and 14 housekeeping staff engaged during the COVID pandemic are working in the Health Department. She also informed about the recent examination conducted by LAHD-SSRB Leh for 29 posts of safaiwala but none of the candidates accepted the offer of the appointment. She requested the HLG to consider 50% of the in-service outsourced safaiwala for the permanent post of safaiwala.
Smt Tahira also requested the enhancement of their salaries.
The HLG informed that the permanent posts of safaiwala would be renotified and asked Smt Tahira and other candidates to appear in the examination. He directed Director of Health Services to provide free coaching to these outsourced safaiwala/housekeepers so that they can appear in the examination for the permanent posts of safaiwala to be conducted by LAHD-SSRB.