IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGES ON CHANGPA TRIBAL COMMUNITY IN LADAKH

The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durgadas Uikey, told the Lok Sabha that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has not conducted any study on how climate change, shrinking grazing pastures, altered snowfall patterns and declining livestock productivity affect the Changpa tribal community’s nomadic livelihood in Ladakh. The Changpa, a Scheduled Tribe, have been beneficiaries of several schemes in the past five years, including PM‑JANMAN, DAJGUA, EMRS, scholarships for ST students, and PMJVM. Under DAJGUA, interventions such as mobile medical units, network delivery, hostel facilities and pucca housing (PM‑AWAS) have been provided. TRIFED has released ₹15 lakhs for a VDVK in Durbuk under PMJVM and procured Pashmina products worth ₹18,847,291, indirectly supporting Changpa pastoralists. An empanelment camp is planned for August 2026 to link Changpa artisans directly with marketing programmes, and documentation of their culture is underway.