JAMMU, AUGUST 21: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday visited Karol Krishna, a border village in Kathua district, and reviewed the progress of development works being carried out under the Vibrant Villages Programme Phase-2 (VVP-2).
Karol Krishna, along with Rathua, Gujjar Chak, Gajnal, Bobiya and Kadiyala, is covered under the Vibrant Villages Programme. During his visit, the Lieutenant Governor distributed benefits under various government welfare schemes among local families and handed over appointment letters to youth.
Addressing residents of the six strategic border villages, LG Sinha said that border villages should not be described as the last villages of the country, but as India’s first villages and the gateway from where the nation begins.
“I always believe that this land is not India’s last village but it is India’s first village and the gateway where our nation begins,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Border Villages at Centre of Development Agenda
LG Sinha said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the border villages of Jammu and Kashmir have moved from the margins to the centre of the development agenda.
He highlighted significant improvements in road connectivity, electricity, telecommunications and education, saying that these interventions have transformed the lives of people living in remote border areas.
The Lieutenant Governor said that since 2019, all 216 border villages of Kathua district have been connected by roads and fully electrified. He added that telecommunication and television services have also reached households that previously had limited access.
“These figures are not just numbers and reports but they represent real change in your lives,” LG Sinha said.
Poverty Declines, Migration Reduced
Highlighting the socio-economic transformation taking place in border areas, the Lieutenant Governor said that poverty has declined significantly, migration to cities has been reduced by nearly half and rural incomes have increased by around 30 per cent.
He said employment opportunities have also expanded, resulting in unemployment being reduced to nearly half of earlier levels.
LG Sinha further stated that more than 2,000 individual and community bunkers have been constructed to strengthen the safety and security of border families.
“Our goal should be that the entire population moves above the poverty line,” he said.
Women SHGs Strengthening Rural Economy
The Lieutenant Governor lauded the contribution of Nari Shakti in strengthening the rural economy and generating sustainable livelihoods.
He said that under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, more than 1,300 Self-Help Groups have been established, benefiting over 12,000 families.
Women in the border villages are engaged in tailoring, embroidery, handicrafts and other small enterprises, contributing to household incomes and strengthening the local economy.
LG Sinha also urged young people living in border areas to aspire for opportunities at par with youth in major metropolitan cities such as Delhi and Mumbai.
He said government schools in these areas have witnessed major improvements through digital classrooms, vocational training and upgraded educational facilities, describing the transformation as a generational change.
Four Key Priorities for Border Villages
The Lieutenant Governor outlined four major priorities for the continued development of border villages.Self-reliance: Connecting villages not only with roads but also with markets, while promoting horticulture and dairy cooperatives.Youth empowerment: Expanding opportunities in agriculture, tourism, defence-support services and traditional crafts.Improved healthcare: Strengthening health infrastructure and expanding telemedicine connectivity.Robust security infrastructure: Enhancing coordination between the civil administration and security forces.
“Development and security are not separate goals but they are two pillars of the same goal. Only a secure village can become a prosperous village, and only prosperous villages can build a self-reliant and developed India,” LG Sinha said.
‘Border Families Are Guardians of India’s Future’
LG Sinha said that the Vibrant Villages Programme is not merely an infrastructure initiative, but a national effort aimed at ensuring dignity, opportunity and security for people residing in border areas.
He said border families, along with BSF personnel, are guardians of the nation’s future and assured residents that the government would continue working to ensure that the benefits of development reach every household.
Addressing the youth, the Lieutenant Governor urged them to take responsibility for shaping the future of their villages.
He asked whether Karol Krishna would remain known merely as a border village or emerge as a place that produces some of the finest youth in the country.
LG Sinha assured residents that developmental gaps and shortcomings would be addressed promptly.
LG Sinha Interacts With BSF Personnel
During his visit to the Karol Krishna Border Out Post (BOP), the Lieutenant Governor interacted with BSF personnel and appreciated their commitment and dedication towards safeguarding the nation’s borders.
He also commended their service during Operation Sindoor and stressed the need for continued vigilance and close coordination to foil and neutralise any hostile attempts by the enemy.
The Lieutenant Governor also assured residents of Kathua that their issues and demands would be taken up with the concerned authorities for prompt resolution.
Senior Officers, Public Representatives Present
Advocate Vijay Kumar, MLA Hiranagar; Additional Chief Secretary Jal Shakti Shaleen Kabra; Additional Chief Secretary Power Development Department Ashwani Kumar; IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti; IG BSF Asif Jalal; Commissioner Secretary GAD M Raju; Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce Vikramjit Singh; Commissioner Secretary Social Welfare Sarmad Hafeez; Commissioner Secretary Planning and Information R. Alice Vaz; Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar; Secretary Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Mohammad Aijaz; J&K Bank MD & CEO Amitava Chatterjee; Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rajesh Sharma, besides senior officers and people from different walks of life, were present.
