Jammu, July 26 -- Kavinder Gupta, 65, who took oath as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh last week, is the first political figure to hold the top job since the strategic region was carved out as a Union Territory from the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state in August 2019. In a telephonic interview with HT, Gupta, a former deputy CM of J&K, listed bringing Ladakh on the world map for tourism, addressing unemployment and boosting infrastructure as his priorities, exuding confidence in his ability to deal with a long-standing demand for statehood and Constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule. Edited excerpts: Talks are already on. The Centre is not against their demands but a decision will be made after careful thought. The Centre has already given them five new districts, with the count now at seven. With requisite funds, the region will see all-round development... I have already started interacting with prominent people from both communities. PM Narendra Modi ji has reposed his faith in me and I will live up to the expectations of both communities. Though security on the borders is the prerogative of the Army and ITBP, the G-O-C concerned (of Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps) regularly gives feedback on it... India is rapidly increasing its military might and the BRO is laying a network of border roads. The Zojila tunnel and other border area development projects are part of new India's pledge to secure its frontiers. During my tenure, these border area development projects will definitely get a boost. We want Ladakh to be on the world map for tourism. The famous Aryan Valley... will be promoted. At the same time, we will ensure that the cultural, ethnic and linguistic sensitivities, besides the ecology of the Himalayan region, are not disturbed. The government recently advertised 359 gazetted posts through UPSC. We are going to advertise more gazetted and non-gazetted posts soon. We will work on fast-track mode......