Border Villages Are India’s First Villages, Not the Last: LG Sinha
Jammu, August 20, 2026: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday visited Karol Krishna, a border village in Kathua district, and reviewed the progress of development initiatives under the Vibrant Villages Programme Phase-II (VVP-2), reaffirming the government’s commitment to making border areas self-reliant, secure and economically vibrant.
During the visit, the Lieutenant Governor distributed benefits under various government schemes among local families and handed over appointment letters to youth. He also addressed residents of six strategic villages covered under VVP-2—Karol Krishna, Rathua, Gujjar Chak, Gajnal, Bobiya and Kadiyala.
Calling border villages the frontline of India’s identity, Sinha said they should not be viewed as the country’s last settlements but as the places from where India begins.
“I always believe that this land is not India’s last village but India’s first village and the gateway where our nation begins,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said that for decades, border villages remained distant from the mainstream of development, but the situation had changed significantly in recent years.
“Border villages are the frontline of India’s identity. Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the border villages of Jammu Kashmir are no longer on the margins but are now at the centre of development. Roads, electricity, telecom and education have reached every home,” Sinha said.
Highlighting development achieved in Kathua since 2019, he said all 216 border villages in the district had been connected by roads and fully electrified. Telecommunications and television connectivity, which was previously limited, had also reached households across the border belt.
The Lieutenant Governor said the transformation was reflected not merely in official figures but in tangible improvements in the lives of residents. He stated that poverty had declined substantially, migration to cities had been reduced by half, rural incomes had increased by around 30 per cent and employment opportunities had expanded, while unemployment had fallen significantly.
He also highlighted the construction of more than 2,000 individual and community bunkers to enhance the safety of border residents.
“Our goal should be that the entire population moves above the poverty line,” Sinha said.
Underscoring the role of women in strengthening the rural economy, the Lieutenant Governor said more than 1,300 self-help groups had been established under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, benefiting over 12,000 families. Women in border villages are engaged in tailoring, embroidery, handicrafts and other small enterprises, contributing to household incomes and local economic activity.
Sinha also stressed the need to provide young people in border areas with opportunities comparable to those available in major cities. He noted that government schools had witnessed improvements in infrastructure, digital classrooms, vocational training and academic facilities.
“This is not a minor change but a generational transformation,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor outlined four key priorities for the future development of border villages: promoting self-reliance by connecting villages with markets and encouraging horticulture and dairy cooperatives; empowering youth through opportunities in agriculture, tourism, defence-support services and crafts; strengthening healthcare and telemedicine facilities; and reinforcing security infrastructure through closer coordination between civil administration and the armed forces.
“Development and security are not separate goals but 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,” he said.
Sinha called upon residents, particularly the youth, to assume greater responsibility for shaping the future of their villages.
He said the younger generation had inherited a strong legacy from their forefathers who had remained steadfast in the border areas through difficult circumstances, and urged them to use the opportunities now available to build successful and prosperous communities.
The Lieutenant Governor assured border families that the government would ensure that the benefits of development reached every household and that shortcomings brought to its notice would be addressed promptly.
“The Vibrant Villages Programme is a national resolve, and from now on we will not let border villages remain behind,” he said, describing border residents as being at the forefront of India’s development and national security.
During the visit, Sinha also interacted with residents and assured them that their demands and issues would receive prompt attention.
He later visited the Karol Krishna Border Out Post (BOP) and interacted with BSF personnel. Commending their dedication to guarding the nation’s borders, the Lieutenant Governor appreciated their service and commitment, particularly during Operation Sindoor.
He stressed the importance of maintaining continuous vigilance and strengthening preparedness to thwart and neutralise any hostile attempts along the border.
Advocate Vijay Kumar, MLA Hiranagar; Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department; Ashwani Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu; Asif Jalal, IG BSF; M Raju, Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department; Vikramjit Singh, Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce; Sarmad Hafeez, Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department; R. Alice Vaz, Commissioner Secretary, Planning and Information; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Mohammad Aijaz, Secretary, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj; Amitava Chatterjee, MD & CEO, J&K Bank; Rajesh Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Kathua; senior officers and people from various walks of life were present. ANB
