‘Border villages our first villages, not last’: LG Sinha

RK News
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07 May 2026

Interacts with jawans at Regal Border Out Post, lauds Operation Sindoor role

Jammu, May 06: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday declared that border villages are no longer the "last villages" of India but are now the "first villages" under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Our border villages are the inheritors of a rich tradition of courage and resilience. Under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we have shifted the narrative. These are no longer the 'last villages' of India; they are our 'First Villages'," the LG said, as he addressed a public rally during his visit to the border village of Regal in Samba district.

The Lieutenant Governor initiated and laid foundation stones for several development projects, including the establishment of a Digital Library at Government Primary School Regal, construction of a Community Hall cum Recreation Centre at Regal, development of Amrit Sarovar at Regal along with a drainage channel, installation of three open gyms, and installation of solar street lights.

Reaffirming the administration's resolve to elevate border settlements from the periphery of neglect to the forefront of national progress, LG Sinha said, "Border villages like Regal are the backbone of India. Our glorious history was forged in the arduous paths of these border villages. 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 Kashmir's progress."

He said the Government of India is implementing a comprehensive strategy under the Vibrant Villages Programme, which aims to integrate border populations into the national mainstream with a focus on Livelihood Generation, Infrastructure, and Connectivity. The programme also aims to saturate all villages in four thematic areas: all-weather road connectivity, telecom connectivity, television connectivity, and electrification.

Sinha directed officials to ensure that every household in border villages has access to electricity, mobile connectivity, and economic independence. "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 MLA Ramgarh, the Lieutenant Governor reiterated the administration's commitment to providing land ownership rights to displaced persons from PoJK and WPRs. He said the completion of the Shahpur Kandi Dam would provide a massive boost to the region's agricultural productivity.

The LG lauded Regal for becoming a TB-free village and urged continued vigilance regarding clean drinking water and the collective fight against drug abuse. He also handed over appointment orders to SPOs and sanction letters to 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, lauded their unwavering determination in guarding the nation's frontiers, and commended their exemplary role in Operation Sindoor.

The event was attended by MLA Ramgarh Dr Devinder Kumar Manyal, Additional Chief Secretaries Shaleen Kabra, Ashwani Kumar, and Anil Kumar Singh; IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti; Principal Secretary Culture Brij Mohan Sharma; Commissioner Secretary Planning R. Alice Vaz; Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar; Deputy Commissioner Samba Ayushi Sudan; SSP Samba Anuj Kumar; senior officials of the army, police, and civil administration; and a large number of people.