JAMMU, Aug 20: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday visited Karol Krishna, a border village in Kathua district, and said border settlements are not the country’s last villages but its “first villages” and the frontline of India’s identity, security and development.
Karol Krishna, along with Rathua, Gujjar Chak, Gajnal, Bobiya and Kadiyala, is covered under the Vibrant Villages Programme-Phase-II (VVP-2). During his visit, Sinha distributed benefits under various government schemes among local families and handed over appointment letters to youth.
Addressing residents of the six strategic villages, the Lieutenant Governor said border areas had remained distant from governance priorities for decades, but the situation had changed significantly under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“When the story of India’s development is written, its first chapter should begin in villages like Karol Krishna, Rathua, Gajnal, Bobiya, Kadiyala and Gujjar Chak, where India’s border breathes and the tricolour flutters,” he said.
Highlighting development since 2019, Sinha said all 216 border villages of Kathua district had been connected by roads and fully electrified. He added that telecommunication and television services, which were previously limited, now reach every household.
He said poverty levels had declined sharply, migration to cities had reduced by half and rural incomes had increased by around 30 per cent. More than 2,000 individual and community bunkers have also been constructed to enhance the safety of border residents.
“Our goal should be that the entire population moves above the poverty line,” Sinha said.
The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted the growing role of women in strengthening border economies. Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, more than 1,300 self-help groups have been formed, benefiting over 12,000 families. Women are engaged in tailoring, embroidery, handicrafts and small enterprises.
Sinha said government schools in border areas had also witnessed improvements, including digital classrooms, vocational training and better infrastructure.
Outlining the future roadmap, he identified four key priorities for border villages—connecting villages with markets, empowering youth through agriculture, tourism and other employment opportunities, strengthening healthcare and telemedicine services, and improving security infrastructure.
“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.
Calling upon young people to take greater responsibility for the future of their villages, Sinha said the Vibrant Villages Programme would ensure that border settlements no longer remained behind in development.
During his visit to the Karol Krishna Border Out Post, the Lieutenant Governor interacted with BSF personnel and commended their commitment to safeguarding the nation's borders, particularly their service during Operation Sindoor. He stressed the need for continued vigilance against hostile attempts.
Sinha also assured residents that their concerns would be addressed promptly.
MLA Hiranagar Vijay Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary Jal Shakti Shaleen Kabra, ACS Power Development Department Ashwani Kumar, IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti, IG BSF Asif Jalal, senior civil and police officers, and representatives of various sections of society were present on the occasion.
