JAMMU: “Border villages are India’s first line of defence, and the residents are the first face of India that any outsider sees. Border residents are not only first in courage, sacrifice, and patience but you also stand first in the priorities of PM Narendra Modi Ji,” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said at the vibrant border village of Makwal in Jammu district.
The LG observed that the residents of border village are serving the nation every single day. That service must not be honoured only in words, but reflected clearly in the quality of life of every family, he said on April 1. He was speaking at a public event, organised under the Phase-II of Vibrant Villages Programme, at Makwal in Jammu.
Sinha directed the officials to ensure that no family is left out and no genuine need go unnoticed. “Where existing schemes fall short in Makwal and other border villages, solutions must be created on priority, because for me, the development of border villages is a sentiment, a resolve, and a responsibility,” he said.
There must be no gaps between what the government promises and what people actually receive. This helps in boosting the confidence of the citizens and helps build a relationship of trust.
“While planning or executing any scheme, always remember that every family in Makwal and in our other border villages is not just living on the border, but standing guard for India,” Sinha said. He remarked that a border village is not the last but first village of India.
“To live here, to build a prosperous society here with complete dedication in the service of nation-building and national security is an act of extraordinary courage. Every moment of residents of border villages is the most powerful symbol of patriotism. Over a decade ago, border villages were routinely neglected. That time is over. Under the leadership of PM Modi, whether it is J&K or the border villages of the Northeast, the distance from Delhi has shrunk in a real sense,” he stressed.
Sinha directed that all government officials must remove obstacles and ensure that Makwal and all other border villages receive every required resource. “Our effort will be to ensure that more resources reach Makwal and other border villages than even the cities of UT. The number of villages formally notified as Vibrant Villages in Jammu District may be limited, but it is the clear effort of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Home Minister Amit Shah that all 541 border villages of Jammu district develop with the same energy and vision,” he assured the villagers.
He further directed for dedicated Nodal officers for border villages and submission of monthly progress report of the villages under Vibrant Villages programme. The LG reiterated his resolve to ensure every border village is connected with better roads, fully functional schools, and abundant opportunities for the youth. “With this mindset, we must work together to transform all our border villages into model villages,’’ he said.
“We want every child in Makwal to receive the same standard of education that a child in any major city of India receives. We want every farmer here to have access to better seeds, assured irrigation, and reliable markets,” he said.
Assuring all the necessary support and assistance to the youth, Sinha said that there is no shortage of talent in Makwal and other border villages. “What is needed today is the right direction for that talent. We must strengthen youth entrepreneurship and women’s self-help groups so that our youth, mothers and sisters are not only the backbone of their own families but also drivers of social and economic progress across the region. Our aim is to make Makwal and other border villages such model villages that young people can see their future here instead of migrating to the cities. For this, all stakeholders must come together to promote entrepreneurship and provide our youth with training, financial support, and consistent mentoring,” he said.
Sinha highlighted the fact that the Government of India is reaching doorsteps of every family in border villages with all the Central schemes, and in the last 5 to 6 years, we have tried to ensure that every border village in Jammu Kashmir becomes more prosperous, more vibrant, and truly inspiring.
“Before 2019, around one-third of families in our border blocks were below the poverty line. In the last 5–6 years, a significant proportion of these families has moved out of poverty, and we have sharply expanded road connectivity to nearly every border village. Electricity, which earlier reached only a part of our border hamlets, has now reached almost every home. Telecom connectivity, once limited to a few villages, has now been ensured in all 541 villages, so that no border family remains cut off from the rest of the country,” he said.
The LG stated that since 2020, we have placed special focus on agriculture, dairy, allied sectors, and tourism, leading to notable growth in farm and dairy output and a visible rise in local incomes through initiatives such as fairs and border tourism events. “Earlier, a sizeable number of families migrated to cities in search of livelihood; after 2019, with new opportunities in self-employment, self-help groups, agriculture, and allied sectors, migration has reduced and village incomes have risen significantly,” he further said.
Responding to the demands, Sinha assured that appropriate action will be taken to address the issues of the residents of Makwal. On land ownership rights of POJK Displaced persons, he said that the directions in this regard issued in 2024 are under implementation. He entrusted upon the Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner to ensure their timely implementation.
On the occasion, the LG initiated various development works through Own Sources of Revenue (OSR). These include: Model Anganwadi Centre, Synthetic Volleyball and Badminton Court, Community Hall with provisions of Library and Computer Lab, Health Sub-Centre at Makwal and Veterinary Dispensary at Sohajana.
The LG handed over handheld X-Ray Machine to the health department, and also felicitated TB Warrior, progressive farmers and land donor for establishment of Model Anganwadi Centre. Appointment orders and Sanction letters were also handed over to various youth of the village and beneficiaries under Mission Yuva and other different schemes.
