Leh: In a significant step towards enhancing administrative efficiency and promoting ease of governance, the Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, chaired a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat, Leh, to review and strategize the upcoming deregulation exercise across all departments of UT Ladakh.
The meeting was convened in line with the national agenda of improving the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), a flagship initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. The Ease of Doing Business framework aims to create a conducive business environment by simplifying regulations, eliminating unnecessary compliances, enhancing transparency, and leveraging technology for seamless service delivery.
The objective of the meeting was to discuss a structured and time-bound plan to streamline existing regulations and promote a more dynamic, transparent, and citizen-centric governance framework. This initiative aligns with the UT administration’s broader vision of fostering sustainable development, improving service delivery, and facilitating ease of doing business in the region.
During the meeting, Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal emphasized the critical need to modernize and simplify bureaucratic procedures, ensuring that the governance mechanisms in Ladakh remain agile and responsive to public needs. He underscored that the deregulation exercise is not only a matter of administrative reform but also a strategic move towards achieving long-term developmental objectives for the Union Territory.
Dr. Kotwal instructed all concerned departments to accord top priority to this initiative and ensure the timely completion of the exercise. He also stressed on inter-departmental coordination and the integration of regulatory systems to ensure seamless implementation.
At the outset of the meeting, Bhupesh Chaudhary, Administrative Secretary of the Agriculture Department, UT Ladakh, delivered a detailed PowerPoint presentation. The presentation outlined key aspects of the deregulation initiative, including: Reduction of regulatory compliance burden, Identification of priority areas for deregulation, Timelines for implementing the reforms, Institutional support and coordination mechanisms, and the creation of a UT-level Single Window System, with proposed integration into the National Single Window System (NSWS), to provide unified and technology-enabled access to services and approvals for citizens and businesses.
It was informed that under Phase I of the exercise, 23 priority areas have been identified for deregulation, mapped across nine key departments of the UT. These include Agriculture, Industries & Commerce, Health & Medical Education, Planning Development and Monitoring (PDMD), Rural Development, General Administration, and Technical Education & Skill Development, among others.
To ensure smooth execution of the plan, it was proposed that each department nominate a nodal officer, preferably someone well-versed with departmental procedures, who will act as the focal point for implementing deregulation reforms in the identified areas.
This initiative marks a significant milestone in the UT Administration’s commitment to achieving efficiency, transparency, and citizen-centric governance. Through the adoption of DPIIT’s Ease of Doing Business principles, Ladakh is poised to create a governance ecosystem that is more conducive to investment, entrepreneurship, and inclusive development.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce department of UT Ladakh; Administrative Secretary health and Medical Education Department of UT Ladakh; Administrative Secretary, PDMD department of UT Ladakh; Administrative Secretary, Agriculture department of UT Ladakh; Administrative Secretary Rural Development Department of UT Ladakh; Administrative Secretary, General Administration Department of UT Ladakh; Administrative Secretary, Technical Education and skill development Department of UT Ladakh; and other concerned officials.
