International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Social Sciences 2319 9 2 2020 04 14 Life in Ladakh (India): the Changpas of Changthang 57 63 EN Georgina ADEBAYO Abiola 1 Department of Business Economics, Wageningen University and Research, Netherlands Olufunmilayo T AFOLAYAN 2 General Studies Department, The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Nigeria V. Sivaprasad 1 Department of Public Administration and Policy Studies, Central University of Kerala, India Srinu Gugulothu 2 Department of Public Administration and Policy Studies, Central University of Kerala, India A.K. Anand 1 Baraktullah University, Bhopal, MP, India A. David 2 Nutan Girls Degree College, Bhopal, MP, India Ramesh Ashwini 1 University of Mysore, India Wadhwa Ritu 1 Amity Business School, Amity University, India Yadav Manju 1 Department of Economics, B.S.R. Government Arts College, Alwar, Rajasthan-301 001, India Yadav Deepesh 2 Raj Rishi Bhartrihari Matsya University, Alwar, Rajasthan-3001 001, India Rahman K.M. Mustafizur 1 Department of Population Science, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Trishal, Mymensingh, Bangladesh Saha Dilip Kumar 1 Office of the Chief Chemical Examiner, CID, Bangladesh Police, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh Islam Md. Nazrul 2 Office of the Chief Chemical Examiner, CID, Bangladesh Police, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh Poddar Pinku 3 Office of the Chief Chemical Examiner, CID, Bangladesh Police, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh V. Avinash 1 Department of History, R.B.A.N.M′s First Grade College, Bangalore University (BU) Bangalore, Karnataka, India Ghosh Chirashree 1 Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, India Saha Anindita Roy 2 Department of Economics, Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi, Delhi, India Dolma Kunzang 3 Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, India > Review Paper 2019 10 31 2020 04 14 The Changpas are the nomadic pastoral communities living in the Changthang plains of Ladakh. With limited agriculture, their lives rely majorly on livestock farming. The Pashmina goats are prime among these and unique to the region. The world-famous Pashmina wool and fabric are produced in this region. While Pashmina is an economic occupation, it is also the name of a cultural identity of the region. However, the socio-economic conditions in these plains do not allow a very high quality of life. The development activities in Ladakh have been centered around Leh and Kargil only. The plains in the other parts of Ladakh have remained mostly underdeveloped. Harsh climatic conditions, poor quality of life and uncertainties associated with pastoralism are some of the major factors that have resulted in large scale migration among the young generation of the Changpas. This has put an old sustainable socio-economic and ecological system under threat. Major development initiatives are required along with scientific methods of saving the grazing land and planning sustainable agriculture in the region. This paper studies the lives of the Pashmina growing Changpa community of the Changthang plains in order to understand the nature and causes of their socio-economic backwardness, pattern of pastoralism and trends of migration that have affected the sustainability of life in the region. Copyright@ International Science Community Association