Ladakh Celebrates 4th Janjatiya Gaurav Divas; and launches Senior Citizen Card application.

Leh, Ladakh Nov. 15, 2024: The 4th Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, celebrated on November 15, 2024, was a vibrant tribute to Ladakh’s rich tribal heritage and culture. Held at Leh Main Market, the event was graced by the Hon’ble Chairman/Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Adv. Tashi Gyalson, who was the Chief Guest. Organized by the Department of Social and Tribal Welfare, UT Ladakh, the celebration honored the legacy of Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his 150th birth anniversary. Birsa Munda, a pivotal figure in India’s freedom movement, was a symbol of the tribal struggle for justice and rights.
As part of the national celebrations, the event also featured a two-way video conference with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Janjatiya Gaurav Divas programme, which was held in Jamui, Bihar. This virtual event ensured that the significance of the occasion reached a wider audience, both locally and nationally. It connected Leh to the larger national celebrations, reinforcing the importance of honoring the contributions of tribal communities and their role in India’s independence movement.
The event showcased Ladakh’s rich cultural diversity with performances by local artists, folk singers and cultural groups. Dignitaries present included Deputy Chairman of LAHDC Leh, Sh. Tsering Angchuk; Commissioner/Secretary for Social and Tribal Affairs, Ms. Padma Angmo; Deputy Commissioner of Leh, Sh. Santosh Sukhadeve; Director, Social and Tribal Welfare, Tashi Dolma; Director(IT) & OIC, NIC Ladakh, Punchok Paldan and Tsewang Paljor, Deputy Secretary of LAACL. Also in attendance were Senior Citizens, Presidents of Women’s Wings of religious organizations, District officers, and prominent figures from the region.
One of the key highlights of the event was the launch of the Senior Citizen Card Portal, an initiative of Social Welfare Department which was developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), UT Ladakh. The portal, launched by Adv. Tashi Gyalson, aims to provide senior citizens in Ladakh with a dedicated platform to avail government benefits and services tailored to their needs. This marks a significant step towards ensuring the welfare of the elderly population in the region, especially in remote and underserved areas.
The Senior Citizen Card Portal https://socialwelfare.ladakh.gov.in/seniorcitizencard is designed to streamline the registration and issuance of Senior Citizen Card, which will allow beneficiaries to access various schemes, discounts, healthcare benefits, and other government initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for senior citizens. By leveraging technology, this initiative promises to empower the elderly and facilitate smoother access to their entitlements, ensuring that they are not left behind in Ladakh’s growth story.
During the event, Ms. Kunzang Dolma, Scientist-B, NIC, Ladakh demonstrated the features of the portal to the attendees, showing how it will make the registration process easier for senior citizens and enable them to quickly access the benefits they are entitled to. This live demo highlighted the user-friendly interface and the various services available through the portal, offering a practical preview of how it will serve the elderly population in the region.