Women Lead the Way in Lahaul-Spiti’s Transformation
Snow-covered mountains, a harsh life, and limited resources—this was the identity of Himachal Pradesh’s tribal district, Lahaul-Spiti. But now, a new shine has been added to this identity—women’s leadership. Today, the entire administrative command of this district is in the hands of women. Here, women’s empowerment is not just a slogan but the foundation of societal progress. This district has given voice to the silent strength within women, buried for centuries, proving that women are second to none.
In Himachal Pradesh’s tribal districts, where women are given equal respect as men, they are also writing new chapters in the development of these areas. The Himachal Pradesh government and the people have now entrusted the governance and administration of Lahaul-Spiti to women. The valley’s residents have high hopes from these female officers. Lahaul-Spiti might be the first district where governance and administration are entirely in the hands of women. For the first time, from elected representatives to administrative and police commands, women hold the reins.
Governance in Women’s Hands
Anuradha Rana is the MLA of Lahaul-Spiti. Previously, she was the district council president of Lahaul-Spiti. She won the 2024 assembly by-election on a Congress ticket and is currently the youngest MLA in the assembly. Bina Devi holds the position of district council president.
Administration and Police Command by Women
Ilma Afroz is the SP of the district. She hails from Kundarki, a small town in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, and is a 2018 batch IPS officer of the Himachal cadre. She secured the 217th rank in the All India exam. Before this, she served as SP in Baddi and has also worked abroad before joining the police service. Ilma is the first woman to hold the SP position in Lahaul-Spiti.
First Female Deputy Commissioner of Lahaul
The Himachal government recently made a significant administrative reshuffle, appointing Kiran Bhadana as the district deputy commissioner. Born on November 27, 1990, in Bayana village of Bharatpur district, Rajasthan, Kiran completed her early education in Faridabad and later graduated from Shri Ram College, Delhi. She pursued her post-graduation in political science from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. After clearing one of the toughest exams in the country, she entered administrative service. Her initial posting was as SDM in Salooni, Chamba district. She has served as ADC Shimla, DC Hamirpur, and Director of Public Relations. Now, she is the first female DC of Lahaul-Spiti.
Young Female Officer as SDM Keylong
Akanksha Sharma, an HAS officer from Mandi district, is the SDM of Keylong. She successfully passed the HAS exam in 2021 and holds a postgraduate degree in botany from Delhi University. She completed her schooling at DAV School, Mandi.
Female Officer in a Major Role as ADC Kaza
Shikha, a 2021 batch HAS officer, is the SDM of Kaza and also holds the additional charge of ADC Kaza. Born on February 14, 1995, in Manganu village, Chamba district, Shikha completed her early education in a government school. She volunteered for the challenging posting in this remote area.
Special Facts About Lahaul-Spiti
Lahaul-Spiti is located in the northern part of Himachal Pradesh, bordering Tibet (China). Formed in 1960 by merging Lahaul and Spiti, its administrative center is Keylong (Lahaul), while Kaza is the sub-headquarters of Spiti. This mountainous region, situated between the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau, is known as a cold desert due to being snow-covered for several months. Covering an area of 13,835 square kilometers, it constitutes about 24.85% of Himachal Pradesh’s total area, making it the largest district by area but the smallest by voter count, with only one assembly constituency.
Challenges
Lahaul-Spiti remains cut off from the rest of the country for 6-8 months due to heavy snowfall in winters. The low population density poses challenges in implementing development plans. Melting glaciers and climate change are significant threats to this region. According to the 2011 census, the sex ratio in Lahaul-Spiti is 916 (916 females per 1000 males), relatively low compared to other districts in Himachal Pradesh. It remains to be seen how women’s power will tackle these challenges.
