Chief Secretary visits Sham District
reviews SCU Progress and inaugurates Tia Model High School
14/07/2026
Leh, July 14 (KIP)-Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, undertook a extensive visit to the Sham district on Tuesday, reviewing the progress of the Sindhu Central University (SCU), inaugurating the newly established Tia Model High School, and interacting with local communities to assess developmental priorities and address public concerns related to education, infrastructure, tourism and essential public services.
The visit commenced at Zer-thang Phobrang, Khaltsi, where a prayer ceremony was underway. The Chief Secretary paid obeisance and sought blessings from Yuda Rinpoche before proceeding to the Sindhu Central University Transit Campus at Zer-thang.
At the transit campus, the Chief Secretary inspected the multipurpose hall, classrooms, hostel facilities and other academic infrastructure. He also held an online interaction with the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Chandrasekhar, and senior university officials, including Prof. Sachin, to review the university's academic and administrative progress.
During the meeting, he inaugurated the Temperature Forecast System portal and took stock of the ongoing admission process, faculty strength and student enrolment. The university authorities informed him that some students are presently pursuing academic activities through temporary arrangements at IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras until the university becomes fully operational in Ladakh.
Reviewing the functioning of the university, Sh. Kundra stressed the importance of ensuring quality higher education within Ladakh. He assured the university administration that transportation facilities for students would be arranged if required and directed the SIDCO and other concerned agencies to coordinate closely with the university to resolve logistical issues. He patiently heard the concerns raised by the university authorities and assured them of the Administration's full support.
The Chief Secretary later visited the under-construction permanent campus of Sindhu Central University at Go-thang, Khaltsi, where he carried out a comprehensive review of the project's progress. He inspected the ongoing construction works and was briefed on the proposed university hospital, water supply system, electricity connectivity, sewerage network, boundary wall and other essential infrastructure.
Expressing concern over delays in execution despite tenders having been awarded earlier, Kundra sought detailed explanations from the executing agencies and contractors regarding the pace of work. He directed officials to adopt an integrated and time-bound approach for completing the project and questioned the status of environmental clearances, contract execution and labour deployment.
Stating that the Environment Department functions directly under his charge, he observed that no proposal seeking environmental clearance had reached his office and instructed the concerned departments to immediately remove all procedural bottlenecks. He emphasised that every department must work in close coordination to ensure that the university project progresses without further delay.
The Chief Secretary thereafter proceeded to Tia village, where he inaugurated the newly established Tia Model High School. He inspected classrooms, the multipurpose hall, Balvatika section and other facilities, appreciating the efforts made by the Education Department in strengthening educational infrastructure in the region.
During the visit, the school management committee submitted a memorandum seeking CBSE affiliation for the school, augmentation of teaching staff, transportation facilities for students, establishment of a DigiLab, construction of additional classrooms, expansion of school land, improved internet connectivity and other educational infrastructure. The committee expressed gratitude to Secretary, School Education, Bhanu Prabha, for her continued support in transforming the institution into a model school.
A public function was later organised by the villagers of Tia, where traditional and community leaders, Nambardars welcomed the Chief Secretary and submitted memoranda highlighting various developmental demands. The memoranda sought support for tourism promotion, infrastructure development, improved road connectivity, parking facilities, strengthening of health services through expansion of the local Primary Health Centre, development of trekking routes, flood protection measures, organic village promotion, enhancement of digital connectivity and improved facilities for the local nunnery.
The speakers also highlighted the significance of the forthcoming anticipated visit of His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa to Ladakh after several years, stating that Tia village is preparing to host the occasion on a large scale. They emphasised the historical, cultural and religious importance of Tia and the wider Sham region, calling for sustained government support to promote heritage tourism and generate livelihood opportunities for local youth.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said he had received several requests from the people of Tia to visit the village and was pleased to witness firsthand the region's developmental potential. Referring to his earlier visit to Sindhu Central University, he underscored the Administration's commitment to strengthening higher education and ensuring that educational opportunities become more accessible for students from remote parts of Ladakh.
He noted that the recent creation of new districts and administrative units would help improve governance and bring government services closer to the people. Assuring the villagers that their concerns would receive due attention, he directed the concerned departments, including PWD, PDD and other line agencies, to resolve pending infrastructure issues at the earliest.
Highlighting the immense tourism potential of Tia and the Sham region, Kundra said the area possesses unique historical, religious and natural assets that can become engines of sustainable economic growth. He urged local youth to actively participate in tourism-related entrepreneurship by promoting homestays, heritage tourism, trekking, cultural experiences and other community-based initiatives. He assured that the Administration would extend all possible support to develop the necessary infrastructure and create an enabling environment for local employment and economic prosperity.
The Chief Secretary was accompanied by Secretary, School Education, Bhanu Prabha; former Chairman/CEC, LAHDC Leh, Tashi Gyalson; Deputy Commissioner Sham; Chief Engineers of PWD and PDD; senior officers from various departments; university officials; and representatives of local institutions and village communities.