Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday cited the completion of more than 30,000 projects in Jammu and Kashmir since 2020 as an example of how public participation, transparency and accountable governance can bring about historic change in the Union Territory.
Addressing the convocation ceremony of the 9th batch and induction of the 10th batch of the Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership (IIDL), the Lieutenant Governor said the transformation in J&K demonstrated the importance of leadership rooted in public service and good governance.
Sinha was addressing graduating students, the incoming batch, faculty members, mentors, administrators, distinguished guests and parents at the event organised by RambhauMhalgi
He said the occasion marked the convergence of two important journeys, with one batch completing its learning journey and another beginning with fresh energy and aspirations.
Congratulating the graduates of the ninth batch, Sinha expressed confidence that they would carry constitutional values, discipline and wisdom into their respective fields of public life. He also welcomed the 10th batch and urged its members to approach their journey with enthusiasm and a strong sense of responsibility.
Emphasising the role of ethics in public life, the Lieutenant Governor said leadership was not merely about holding a position but about understanding people’s needs, creating opportunities for them and serving society with humility and honesty.
He urged the young leaders to make ethics their character, public service their duty, responsibility their identity and excellence their style of work.
“Your success will not be judged by your position, but by how many lives you changed, how much trust you earned, and how positive an impact you left on society,” Sinha said.
He said young leadership would have a crucial role in realising the vision of Viksit Bharat, particularly by ensuring that development reaches the last person in the queue.
Referring specifically to Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor said the post-2020 period had demonstrated how public participation and good governance could translate into visible development.
He highlighted the completion of over 30,000 projects through public participation, along with the strengthening of Panchayati Raj institutions and digital governance, saying these initiatives reflected the impact of transparency and accountability in administration.
Sinha presented J&K’s experience as an example for the young leaders, stressing that governance becomes meaningful when institutions and leadership work together to address people’s needs and improve their quality of life.
The Lieutenant Governor said India was at a crucial stage of its development and identified seven major challenges that needed to be addressed to build a prosperous, united and globally competitive nation.
These include sustaining long-term economic growth, eliminating terrorism, separatism and divisive forces while strengthening national unity, and promoting transparent, accountable and technology-driven governance to curb corruption.
He also highlighted the need for merit-based opportunities in politics, greater national integration through shared cultural initiatives, global leadership in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors, and the creation of a world-class education system based on quality, research, innovation and skills.
Sinha said overcoming these challenges would require the collective commitment of all citizens, particularly the country’s youth.
Highlighting India’s demographic strength, the Lieutenant Governor said more than 65 per cent of the country’s population is below the age of 35, making youth the nation’s greatest strength.
He urged young people to transform this demographic dividend into a leadership dividend by building teams, empowering others and developing roadmaps for inclusive growth.
He said the emerging generation of leaders would have to deal with complex challenges arising from rapid urbanisation, climate change and rising aspirations.
“Every decision you make, every word you speak, and every action you take will either strengthen our democracy or weaken it,” he said, urging the youth to put national interest first.
Sinha outlined four essential principles for democratic leadership—honesty and transparency, knowledge and wisdom, sensitivity and public service.
He said honesty and transparency were essential for building trust, while knowledge and wisdom should guide decision-making. Sensitivity, he said, was necessary to maintain balance in a democracy, while public service should remain the highest duty of leadership.
He stressed that institutions could become effective only when supported by ethical leadership.
“The strength of democracy lies in Constitutional values, institutions and in those leaders who are committed to the values of honesty, humility, and public service,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He added that institutions create the structure of democracy, but ethical leadership gives them purpose and energy.
Sinha also acknowledged the contribution of RambhauMhalgi Prabodhini, which was established in 1982 and has trained more than 60,000 parliamentarians, legislators, panchayat representatives, entrepreneurs and youth.
He said the institution had made a significant contribution to leadership training and capacity building, while the creation of IIDL had further strengthened efforts to prepare young leaders for democratic institutions and nation-building.
Referring to the institute’s motto, Lokahitam Mam Karaniyam—“Welfare of the people is my duty”—the Lieutenant Governor said it should serve as a guiding principle for future leaders.
Drawing upon India’s civilisational traditions, including the Vedas and Upanishads, he emphasised collective resolve, unity and noble intentions as foundations for social harmony and prosperity.
The Lieutenant Governor urged the youth to combine tradition with modernity and progress with sensitivity while building an India that is prosperous, inclusive and innovative.
He said young leadership should be driven by innovation, empowered by technology, credible through transparency, humane through sensitivity and result-oriented through effective implementation.
He also stressed that public trust was the greatest strength of democracy and could be built only through dialogue, consensus and inclusion.
“True leadership rises above the boundaries of caste, religion and region, carries everyone together, and treats public welfare as its highest duty,” Sinha said.
Calling upon the young leaders to contribute to policy-making and problem-solving, he said their generation had the ideas, capabilities and energy required to shape India’s next phase of development.
He urged them to ensure that their leadership remains focused not merely on achieving positions but on creating opportunities, earning public trust and transforming the lives of ordinary people.
