J&K admn pledges to transform border villages into growth hubs

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said the administration is committed to elevating border settlements from the periphery of neglect to the forefront of national progress.

During his visit to the border village of Regal in Samba district, the Lieutenant Governor inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for several development projects. These include the establishment of a digital library at a government primary school, construction of a community hall-cum-recreation centre, development of an Amrit Sarovar along with a drainage channel, installation of solar street lights, and the opening of three open gyms.

Addressing the gathering, Sinha said, “Border villages like Regal are the backbone of India. Our glorious history was forged along the arduous paths of these regions. We are committed to safeguarding the dignity of every border village family and ensuring that those who faced neglect are now given the highest priority in Jammu and Kashmir’s development journey.”

He highlighted that the Union government is implementing a comprehensive strategy under the Vibrant Villages Programme, aimed at integrating border populations into the national mainstream. The programme focuses on livelihood generation, infrastructure development, and improved connectivity.

The Lieutenant Governor said the initiative also seeks to ensure saturation across four key areas: all-weather road connectivity, telecom connectivity, television access, and electrification through convergence of existing schemes.

“Every effort is being made to fulfil the aspirations of citizens and meet the developmental needs of border residents. Through a whole-of-government approach, we aim to achieve all targets set under the programme,” he said.

He directed officials to ensure that every household in border villages has access to electricity, mobile connectivity, and opportunities for economic independence. “We must ensure that by 2030, not a single family in the border villages of Samba remains below the poverty line,” Sinha added.

Responding to demands raised by local representatives, he reiterated the administration’s commitment to providing land ownership rights to displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and West Pakistan.

He also noted that the completion of the Shahpur Kandi Dam would significantly boost agricultural productivity in the region.

The Lieutenant Governor praised Regal for achieving TB-free status and urged residents to remain vigilant about clean drinking water and continue collective efforts against drug abuse.

He also distributed appointment orders to Special Police Officers (SPOs) and sanction letters to youth beneficiaries under schemes such as HADP and Mission Yuva.

During his visit to the Regal Border Out Post, Sinha interacted with security personnel and commended their dedication in safeguarding the nation’s borders, particularly their role in Operation Sindoor.