Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Jan 6 : Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, today chaired a departmental review meeting of the Information Technology (IT) Department to assess the status of digital infrastructure, e-governance initiatives, and future technology-driven reforms in the UT.
During the meeting, Secretary, IT Department, Shashankala, gave a detailed presentation covering the overall IT ecosystem in Ladakh, including the functioning of the IT Department, NIC and NIELIT, organizational structure, Ladakh e-Governance Agency (LeGA), Ladakh State Data Centre (LSDC), Network Operations Centre (NOC), Ladakh SWAN network, 4G Saturation Project, Cyber Security initiatives 2026, network infrastructure, Digital Bharat Nidhi (formerly USOF), online services in UT Ladakh, central and UT-specific applications implemented in Ladakh, upcoming IT proposals, IT budget, e-Office and e-Sign implementation, and Centre of Excellence initiatives.
The Chief Secretary reviewed the presentation in detail and emphasized the need for establishing a cloud-based data centre with a strong focus on disaster management and cybersecurity.
He underlined the importance of regular penetration testing and robust security protocols to safeguard government data.
With regard to the 4G Saturation Project, Kundra directed the department to prepare a master list based on ground data, clearly identifying uncovered villages and hamlets, particularly critical habitations in border areas.
He stressed the need for accurate site matching, district-wise status assessment, and exploration of alternative connectivity solutions, whether through towers or other feasible technologies, with a clear long-term vision for universal internet access.
Kundra also called for the organization of a UT-level IT conference to showcase the current status of IT initiatives, G2C services, future plans, identified gaps, and the roadmap ahead, with the objective of strengthening digital governance in Ladakh.
Reviewing the status of AI courses and student enrolment, he directed the department to explore Google-certified programmes and similar initiatives to enhance employability among the youth of Ladakh.
The meeting was attended by Shashanka Ala, Secretary, IT Department; Sunil Kaul, State Informatics Officer, NIC Ladakh; Punchok Paldan, Scientist-F, NIC Ladakh; Kaneez Fatima, Joint Director, Finance Department; and other senior officials.
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