Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with a delegation of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), led by Councillor Yangchan Dolma, during her ongoing visit to Leh. The interaction was part of a broader four-day tour aimed at reviewing and promoting development initiatives in the Union Territory.
The Finance Minister’s office posted on X, “Delegation led by Smt Yangchan Dolma, Councillor – Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh, calls on Smt Nirmala Sitharaman.”
During the visit, Sitharaman also inspected the proposed National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) site near Pangong Lake in Merak. The NLST is envisioned as a state-of-the-art, 2-meter class optical and near-infrared solar observatory that will significantly advance solar physics research in India.
Paying tribute to national heroes, the Finance Minister laid a wreath at the Rezang La War Memorial in Chushul, honoring the bravery of soldiers who laid down their lives during the 1962 Indo-China war. The memorial stands at an altitude of over 15,000 feet and symbolizes India’s military valor in the Himalayas.
Earlier in her visit, Sitharaman traveled to Rongdo Valley, where she interacted with members of the local nomadic tribal community. As part of a CSR initiative by the SBI Foundation, she handed over a cheque of ₹50 lakh for constructing tents to support the tribe’s traditional lifestyle.
On June 15, Sitharaman also virtually inaugurated multiple development projects in Ladakh, underlining the Centre’s commitment to inclusive growth and infrastructure enhancement in the region.
During a Credit Outreach Programme in Leh, she distributed loan sanction letters to beneficiaries under key Central Government schemes such as PM MUDRA, PMEGP, PM Vishwakarma, PM FME, and Joint Liability Group (JLG) loans. Loans amounting to ₹5.13 crore were disbursed as part of the initiative.
Sitharaman also visited an exhibition of local handicrafts and handlooms, where she interacted with Self Help Groups (SHGs) and local entrepreneurs, encouraging their participation in the region’s economic development.
