A Forgotten Frontier: The Struggles of Ladakhi Students after 370.

On August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated, Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory. Many people celebrated this move as a step towards better governance and development. But for the students and job seekers of Ladakh, the ground reality has been far from the promises made. Over the years since that decision, hopes have slowly turned into frustration, and dreams into anxiety.

In the early days following the change, there was a sense of optimism among the youth. We thought this shift would bring better educational infrastructure, greater opportunities, and permanent job prospects within the Union Territory. However, more than five years later, those expectations remain largely unmet. While roads and buildings may have improved, the lives of young people in Ladakh,especially students and job aspirants are caught in uncertainty and disillusionment.

A major issue is the absence of proper planning and support for higher education. Ladakh lacks a full-fledged university of its own, and students are forced to migrate to other states for quality education. Not every family can afford this, and not every student manages to adjust to the academic and cultural life elsewhere. Many bright minds are left behind, with little access to specialized courses, coaching centers, or career guidance. As a result, our youth are not only struggling to compete with students from metropolitan cities but also battling feelings of isolation and being left out of the national mainstream.

The government had promised to open the door to job opportunities. Instead, what we are witnessing is a constant rise in contractual and outsourced recruitment. Outsourcing of jobs especially in education, healthcare, and administration has become the norm in Ladakh. Talented and qualified youths are being offered temporary roles with low pay, zero job security, and no social benefits. Even positions that were previously considered secure and permanent are now being filled through outsourced agencies. This trend has crushed the hopes of thousands who worked hard for government jobs, believing they would one day serve their own homeland with dignity.

The emotional impact of this ongoing neglect cannot be ignored. Young people in Ladakh are growing increasingly anxious. Depression, stress, and a sense of hopelessness are becoming widespread, though rarely talked about. The lack of employment, limited career choices, and the pressure of moving away from families for education or work have taken a serious toll on mental health. This is not just a policy failure, it is a human tragedy in the making.

There is also a growing sense among Ladakhi youth that their voices are not being heard. Despite being granted the status of a Union Territory, there is no legislature in Ladakh. Without elected local representatives, there is little scope for the aspirations of the people to be addressed. Decisions are being made from a distance, often without understanding the local challenges or consulting the people directly affected.

We are not asking for miracles. We are only asking for what is fair: quality education in our own region, permanent job opportunities that respect our talent and dedication, and policies that value the mental and emotional well-being of our youths. Outsourcing cannot be a long-term solution. The region needs a roadmap for sustainable development that centers on its people, especially the younger generation who are the future of Ladakh.

If this continues, we risk losing an entire generation of Ladakhi youth to frustration and forced migration. The government must recognize that national integration is not just about changing maps or legal status,it is about empowering people, especially those living in remote regions. Ladakhi students deserve better. We deserve to be seen, heard, and supported in building a future filled with hope, not despair.

Delawar Hussain Khalo

The Author is a Law Students at University of Delhi.