‘Kupwara’s border villages will become model hubs of growth’

Kupwara, May 13: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Wednesday said that border villages in Kupwara were being transformed into model hubs of development.

During his visit to Trehgam, after leading a mega NashaMuktAbhiyan rally in main town Kupwara earlier in the day, LG Sinha rolled out a series of infrastructure and welfare initiatives aimed at improving connectivity, livelihoods, and public services.

Addressing a gathering, he said that the central government was committed to develop the border areas at par with the urban areas.

“The central government has been taking concrete steps to ensure that people living in border areas receive the same level of development and opportunities as those in urban areas,” the LG said.

Highlighting the infrastructural improvements in the recent years, he said that electricity coverage in Kupwara had increased from around 70 percent to nearly 95 percent households.

Regarding telecom connectivity, LG Sinha said that the facility had reached upto 88 percent in the district.

He directed officials to ensure 100 percent coverage by the end of the year.

Talking about self-employment initiatives, the LG said that the administration had been focusing on strengthening livelihoods through self-employment initiatives. “Trehgam already has over 200 Self-Help Groups and dozens of units under Mission Youth,” he said.

LG Sinha pointed out that the revival of the Sharda Temple in Teetwal area of border town Karnah had emerged as a major boost to tourism, with visitor numbers in Kupwara witnessing a sharp rise in recent years.

Talking about the Vibrant Village Programme, he said that the focus of the initiative lies on livelihood generation, connectivity, and saturation of welfare schemes.

The LG emphasised the need for a coordinated approach among departments to ensure comprehensive development of border areas.

On the occasion, he inaugurated 26 smart classrooms across six blocks under the Aspirational District Programme.

LG Sinha also laid foundation stones for a hilltop playground in Trehgam and the development and preservation of a Shiv Temple, with a combined cost of over Rs 3.5 crore.

Later in the day, he distributed appointment letters and sanction orders among beneficiaries.

The LG also flagged off a mobile tuberculosis diagnosis and awareness vehicle.