Padma Shri for linking Zanskar valley with Darcha

Tribune News Service

Mandi, February 3

Social worker Tsultrim Chonjor of Stongde village in Ladkah has been named for the Padma Shri award for his social work. He has dedicated his life and property to social cause.

Chonjor’s social work came to notice when he constructed a 38-km-long stretch of road from Kargyak village in the Zanskar valley of the Ladakh region towards Darcha village in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh via Shinku La from May 2014 to June 2017. He spent Rs 57 lakh from his own pocket and sold his ancestral property to construct the road.

Sources said he was a government employee, who had worked with the state Handicrafts Department from 1965 to 2000. He was unhappy as the region lacked road connectivity.

Sold aNcestral property for project

• Tsultrim Chonjor constructed a 38-km-long stretch from Kargyak village in the Zanskar valley of Ladakh towards Darcha village in Lahaul and Spiti via Shinku La from May 2014 to June 2017
• He spent Rs57 lakh from his own pocket and sold his ancestral property for the project. His work was recognised by the BRO, which then took the work of constructing a road from Darcha to Padum, headquarters of Zanskar valley

The social work of Chanjor was recognised by the Border Roads Organisation authority, which later took the responsibility of constructing the road from Darcha ahead of Shinkula Pass in Lahaul Spiti towards Padum village, the main headquarters of the Zanskar valley in the Ladakh region.

The Tribune had also highlighted the social work of Chanjore, when he constructed the road in the area.

Talking to The Tribune over phone from his native of village Stongde in Ladakh, Chonjor said, “It is a matter of happiness for me that the Central government has named me for the highest civilian award for my social work. My dream will come true, when all remote areas of country would be connected with road facility where people are facing difficulty in availing the transportation facility due to lack of road connectivity.”