LG Saxena disburses Rs. 1.10 crore incentive to over 1,200 nomadic Pashmina herders
10/08/2026
LEH, Aug 9: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday disbursed Rs. 1.10 crore to more than 1,200 nomadic Pashmina herders as a production-based incentive aimed at strengthening the Pashmina sector and improving the livelihoods of pastoral communities.
Saxena made the disbursement while attending the Changthang Nomadic Festival 2026 at Korzok, on the banks of Tsomoriri Lake.
The 25 per cent production-based incentive was introduced for the first time following the first meeting of the Ladakh Pashmina Development Board held on July 5, 2026.
The Lieutenant Governor said the incentive would enhance the income, profitability and sustainability of nomadic Pashmina growers. He noted that raw Pashmina collection had already increased to 19 MT by July this year, compared with 16 MT during the entire year in 2025.
Under the scheme, Rs. 1.10 crore was transferred through Direct Benefit Transfer to over 1,200 herders, mainly from Samad, Kharnak and Korzok villages, among the major Pashmina-producing areas of Changthang.
Samad received around Rs. 44 lakh, Kharnak Rs. 28 lakh and Korzok Rs. 23 lakh as the major shares of the incentive.
Saxena said 60 per cent of the incentive would be reinvested by beneficiaries in scientific breeding of Pashmina goats, 20 per cent in modern combing equipment and basic infrastructure, while the remaining 20 per cent could be used for household and personal requirements.
The L-G also announced that a Rs. 8 crore revolving fund had been provided to the All Changthang Pashmina Growers Marketing Cooperative Society, which operates the Pashmina dehairing plant in Leh, to ensure timely payments to growers.
Under the new arrangement, 50 per cent of the cost of Pashmina would be paid immediately to producers, with the remaining amount to be paid within two months, reducing delays that had earlier extended to eight to 10 months.
Calling for greater adoption of scientific practices, Saxena urged Pashmina growers to increase average fibre production from the present 200 grams per goat to at least 350 grams and raise the Pashmina goat population from around two lakh to four lakh within three years through scientific breeding.
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