Srinagar/Jammu, April 28 -- Ladakh lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday notified the creation of five new districts of Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass, taking the total number of districts in the Union Territory to seven in addition to the existing Leh and Kargil. Saxena said that the decision, approved by the ministry of home affairs in August 2024, "aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for a prosperous Ladakh." He said that the decentralisation would strengthen grassroots governance and ensure faster service delivery to remote areas, while opening new avenues for employment and entrepreneurship. Making the announcement on X, Saxena described it as a landmark moment for the region. "A historic day for Ladakh. I have approved the notification for creation of five new districts in Ladakh, fulfilling the aspirations and long-pending demand of the people of Ladakh." The administrative overhaul comes ahead of a May 22 meeting between the Union government on one side and Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). These groups have spearheaded a long-running campaign for statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule. Union home minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive in Leh on April 30 for a two-day visit . The region has been on the edge since September when protests turned violent, resulting in the killing of four persons and the arrest of nearly 50 individuals, including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, under the National Security Act (NSA). Wangchuk was released on March 14 after six months of incarceration, but two prior rounds of talks with the home ministry in October and February ended in a deadlock over the groups' core demands. "We urge the Union home minister to take the government's initiative for meaningful constructive dialogue mentioned in the NSA revocation order of Sonam Wangchuk," said Chering Dorje Lakrook, president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association. Wangchuk and other LAB members have called for an unconditional withdrawal of cases against 83 people arrested during the September violence, most of whom they claim are innocent. They are also seeking compensation for the families of those killed or crippled by police shootings. KDA and LAB have appealed for a high-powered committee meeting under the home minister's chairmanship during his visit to address the unique cultural and strategic protections the region has sought since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019....