Women Lead the Way in Snow-Covered Lahaul-Spiti: From MLA to DC, SP, and SDM

Keylong, April 28:
Himachal Pradesh’s tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti is emerging as a remarkable example of women’s empowerment. In this remote, snow-clad region known for its harsh terrain and challenging weather, women are now leading from the front — from elected representatives to the administrative and police leadership.

Anuradha Rana, the MLA from the district’s lone assembly constituency, is playing a pivotal role in driving Lahaul-Spiti’s development. She is one of only three women legislators in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly.

The district administration is also in the capable hands of a woman. IAS officer Kiran Bhardana, from the 2017 batch, has been appointed the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Lahaul-Spiti — the first woman to ever hold this post in the district. She is steering the administration efficiently, despite the region’s challenging geographical conditions.

On the policing front, the district’s law and order is overseen by another dynamic woman officer. IPS officer Ilma Afroz, from the 2018 batch, serves as the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Lahaul-Spiti. In a region where heavy snowfall and extreme cold are routine, keeping the police force alert and responsive around the clock is a demanding task — one she is handling with notable efficiency.

Lahaul-Spiti is divided into three subdivisions — Udaipur, Keylong, and Kaza. Of these, two are headed by women SDMs. Akanksha Sharma, an HPAS officer from the 2021 batch, serves as the SDM in Keylong, while Shiksha Smita, also from the 2021 batch, has been appointed as the SDM of Kaza. Hailing originally from Chamba district, Shiksha Smita is notably the first woman to hold the SDM post in Kaza.

What makes their work even more remarkable is the extreme climate they operate in — temperatures in Kaza can plummet to minus 30 degrees Celsius during winter, often leaving the region cut off from the rest of the world for days due to heavy snowfall.

Today, from traditional household roles to the helm of governance and administration, women are leading every front in Lahaul Valley. The district stands as a shining testament to the spirit of women’s empowerment.