New Delhi, May 23 -- In a sign of flexibility in months, offering a glimmer of hope to locals who have been protesting for land, job, and cultural protections in the ecologically fragile Himalayan region, Ladakh-based climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday said that the Union Home Ministry has proposed granting constitutional safeguards to the region under Article 371.

The proposal emerged during a high-level meeting in New Delhi attended by representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), the two primary bodies spearheading Ladakh's protests for constitutional protections.

While Ladakh has steadfastly demanded inclusion under the Sixth Schedule (Article 244) alongside full statehood, the governm...