Border Villages as ‘First Villages’: Sinha Highlights Development Push in Samba

Jammu Tawi, May 6: Terming border villages as inheritors of a rich tradition of courage and resilience, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, these hamlets are no longer the last villages of India.

Addressing a public rally during his visit to the border village of Regal in Samba district, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for several development projects, the LG said, “Our border villages are the inheritors of a rich tradition of courage and resilience. Under the leadership of PM Modi, we have shifted the narrative. These are no longer the ‘last villages’ of India; they are our ‘first villages’.”

The Lieutenant Governor reaffirmed that the administration is resolute in elevating border settlements from the periphery of neglect to the forefront of national progress.

“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, ensuring that those who have faced the greatest neglect are now accorded the highest priority in the new era of Jammu and Kashmir’s progress,” he said.

Highlighting the Government of India’s initiatives, the LG said a comprehensive strategy is being implemented under the Vibrant Villages Programme to integrate border populations into the national mainstream, with a focus on livelihood generation, infrastructure, and connectivity. He added that the programme aims to cover all villages in four thematic areas— all-weather road connectivity, telecom connectivity, television connectivity, and electrification through convergence under existing schemes.

“Every effort is being made to ensure that the aspirations of every citizen are fulfilled and that the development needs of border residents are met. Through a ‘whole-of-government’ approach, we aim to achieve every target set under the Vibrant Villages Programme,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor directed officials to ensure that every household in border villages has access to electricity, mobile connectivity, and economic opportunities.

“We must ensure that by 2030, not a single family in the border villages of Samba remains below the poverty line,” he said.

Responding to demands raised by the MLA from Ramgarh, the LG reiterated that the administration is committed to providing land ownership rights to displaced persons from PoJK and West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs).

He also stated that the completion of the Shahpur Kandi Dam would significantly boost the region’s agricultural productivity.

The Lieutenant Governor lauded Regal for becoming a TB-free village and urged continued vigilance in ensuring clean drinking water and combating drug abuse.

He also handed over appointment orders to Special Police Officers (SPOs) and sanction letters to various youth and beneficiaries under HADP, Mission Yuva, and other schemes.

During his visit to the Regal Border Out Post (BoP), the Lieutenant Governor interacted with jawans and lauded their unwavering dedication in guarding the nation’s frontiers, commending their exemplary role in Operation Sindoor.

The Lieutenant Governor also laid the foundation stone for a digital library at Government Primary School Regal, a community hall-cum-recreation centre, development of an Amrit Sarovar along with a drainage channel, installation of three open gyms, and solar street lights.