Says power coverage has reached 95%
Visits Vibrant Village Trehgam
Inaugurates 26 smart classrooms
Lays foundation for playground, Shiv Temple restoration
Aatif Qayoom
Kupwara, May 13: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said the government is working to transform border villages of Kupwara into model villages by improving roads, electricity, schools, connectivity and employment opportunities for local youth.
The LG made these remarks while visiting Vibrant Village Trehgam in Kupwara district, where he inaugurated several projects, laid foundation stones for new works and interacted with residents to understand their concerns and developmental needs.
Addressing a public gathering, Sinha said the Government of India (GoI) under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is fully committed to the overall development of border villages in J&K. He said every village deserves all-weather roads, modern schools and better opportunities for youth, adding that this vision is driving the transformation of Kupwara’s border villages after 2019.
“The administration is working to ensure that children living in remote villages receive the same quality education available in urban areas of J&K,” the LG said. He called for strengthening agriculture by ensuring better seeds, reliable irrigation facilities and proper market linkages for farmers.
Highlighting the growing self-employment sector in Trehgam, Sinha said 205 self-help groups and 85 Mission Youth units are already operational in the area. These initiatives, he said, are helping local youth and women become financially independent.
Referring to the revival of the historic Sharda Temple in Teetwal, the Lieutenant Governor said the development has given a major boost to tourism in Kupwara district. He said tourist arrivals have increased from only 6,900 in 2018-19 to nearly 3.77 lakh in 2024-25, and expressed confidence that every border village in the district will soon witness economic growth and prosperity.
Sinha recalled his visit to Machil in October 2020 and said the Keran and Machil areas were connected with grid power after decades of waiting. “At that time, only around 70 per cent of households in border villages had reliable electricity, but in the last four years the coverage has increased to nearly 95 per cent,” he said.
He further said telecom connectivity in border villages has now reached 88 per cent and directed officials to ensure complete coverage before the end of this year. According to him, every family living in border areas is serving the nation and deserves better living conditions and infrastructure.
The LG said all-weather roads have already been provided to 15 out of 16 Vibrant Villages through PMGSY and PWD projects. He added that funding for the remaining village has been approved by the central government and work will begin shortly.
Speaking about Vibrant Village Phase 2, the Lieutenant Governor said the programme focuses on three major areas, including livelihood generation, physical and digital connectivity and complete implementation of government welfare schemes. He said new cooperative societies, self-help groups, tourism circuits and cottage industries will be promoted to strengthen the rural economy, especially for women and youth.
Sinha said the administration is adopting a whole-of-government approach to connect villages like Trehgam with the national mainstream. He said that CSR funds are being used for the construction of stadiums and playgrounds in remote areas to create better sports infrastructure for youth.
The Lieutenant Governor reiterated that the Government of India remains committed to the rehabilitation of terror victim families and people affected by floods.
During the visit, Sinha inaugurated 26 smart classrooms in six vibrant blocks under the Aspirational District Programme. He laid foundation stones for the development of a hilltop playground in Trehgam at a cost of Rs 1.60 crore and renovation and preservation works of Shiv Temple at Trehgam costing Rs 1.94 crore.
The Lieutenant Governor also distributed appointment letters to SPOs, job orders and sanction letters among beneficiaries under various schemes. He flagged off a mobile tuberculosis diagnosis and awareness vehicle during the event.