Border villages connected to development: LG

Srinagar, May 12: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said border villages were now connected to the mainstream of development.

Visiting ‘vibrant village’ UranBowa in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, LG Sinha said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, border villages’ distance from Delhi has reduced.

“They are connected to the mainstream of development and it is commitment of the Government of India to ensure that border villages become symbol of inclusive development,” he said reviewing ongoing schemes and addressing a public gathering.

“The people of our border villages, especially farmers, youth and women shoulder an extraordinary responsibility in serving the nation. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, border villages’ distance from Delhi has reduced. They are connected to the mainstream of development and it is commitment of the GOI to ensure that border villages become symbol of inclusive development,” the LG said.

Under the vibrant villages programme, the Centre has rolled out a structured initiative for inclusive development in all border villages selected under the programme.

At its core are four key areas that will lay the foundation for a new era in border regions. The first is ensuring all-weather road connectivity, household electrification, telecom connectivity and television connectivity.

“I truly believe that roads unlock new possibilities. All 18 villages covered under the Vibrant Villages Programme are now linked by all-weather roads. The process to connect all 83 border villages of Baramulla has been expedited and very soon every border village of Jammu Kashmir will be integrated into the economic mainstream and linked to other key cities of the country. Before 2019, telecom and digital coverage in those 18 strategically vital Villages was under 40 percent. Under the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s leadership, we have ensured 100% 4G and 5G connectivity in these critical spots,” LG Sinha said.

He assured the residents of border villages that the digital revolution would not stop at city limits and the administration is committed to strengthening digital infrastructure and delivering reliable mobile and internet services to every frontier hamlet.

The LG asaid that youth and women were being empowered and entrepreneurship was being promoted in border areas for a prosperous society.

He said that the administration was working on three key parameters – improving literacy rate, ensuring economic growth, and providing livelihood generation opportunities for the youth of villages like UranBowa.

“Youth and women in border areas now have self-employment opportunities, increased education infrastructure provides vocational training for the next generation, and border tourism, new revolution in agriculture and allied sectors have ignited prosperity across all 18 vital villages,” LG Sinha said.

He inaugurated and laid foundation stone for various development projects worth Rs 94 crore under different sectors and key infrastructure projects in 83 vibrant villages under vibrant villagesprogramme-II.

The LG handed over appointment orders to SPOs, computer tabs to students, and sanction letters to various youth of the village and beneficiaries under HADP, Mission Yuva, and other schemes.

He also unveiled the jersey and trophy for the upcoming SPANDAN League 2026, North Kashmir Football Championship, to be organised by BSF.

SajjadShafi, Member Legislative Assembly from Uri; NalinPrabhat, DGP; S J M Gillani, Special DG Coordination PHQ; SarmadHafeez, Commissioner Secretary Social Welfare, V K Birdi, IGP Kashmir; Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; SyeedFakhrudin Hamid, Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla; senior officials of BSF, Police, and civil administration, prominent citizens, and people from different walks of life in large numbers were present.