Himachal’s remote Lahaul-Spiti district leads the way in women empowerment

Himachal Pradesh’s tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti has demonstrated a distinctiveness surrounding ‘women empowerment’ – leading the way – all the key positions in its administrative setup are now held by women.

Last week, the State government appointed Kiran Bhadana, a 2017-batch IAS officer, as the first woman Deputy Commissioner of Lahaul-Spiti — a tribal district known for its customary exclusion of daughters, particularly married ones, from inheritance rights. This appointment marks a progressive step in a region where traditional norms have long dictated property succession.

Interestingly, following this appointment, as many as seven women are now at the helm of governance and administrative affairs in this remote district. The Congress government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, through focused policies has been working to uplift the socio-economic standards of people residing in the tribal and far flung areas of Himachal Pradesh.

Holding the policing command of the district is Ilma Afroz (IPS), who is currently the Superintendent of Police, while the constituency is represented by MLA Anuradha Rana, elected during the 2024 bye-elections. Akansha Sharma is the Sub-Divisional Magistrate stationed at Keylong while Shikha Simitia is the Additional Deputy Commissioner at Kaza. Veena Devi is the Chairperson of Zila Parishad.

Lahaul and Spiti Assembly constituency and the district both comes under the Mandi parliamentary constituency, which is represented by another woman – actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut, who was elected as Member of Parliament in 2022.

With a sparse population of around 40,000, including 25,967 voters, Lahaul-Spiti spans an expansive area of 13,814 square kilometers, making it one of the most thinly populated regions in the country.

The State government has prioritised development in remote and tribal regions. In a first, ‘Himachal Day’ was celebrated at Kaza in Spiti Valley, in 2023. Besides, the State also launched the first phase of its flagship programme, the ‘Indira Gandhi Pyari Behana Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojna’, from Kaza, providing ₹1,500 per month to eligible women above the age of 18.

In its outreach to far away areas, the State government celebrated this year’s ‘Himachal Day at Pangi, another remote region of Chamba district in the State.