Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Thursday that the Union Territory is emerging as a land of possibilities where youths are excelling in sports, education, innovation and entrepreneurship.
“The story of Jammu and Kashmir is no longer confined to the challenges of the past, but it is also the story of the efforts of the present and the possibilities of the future,” Sinha said while addressing participants in a cycle race organised by police here.
Sinha emphasised that a region’s true progress is secured when its youths have access to opportunities, confidence in their abilities, and a strong sense of unity. Felicitating the winners, the Lieutenant Governor said the event reflected the optimism, self-confidence and vibrant spirit of a new Jammu and Kashmir, driven by the energy and talent of its youth.
Sinha commended police for extending their role beyond security and law enforcement through meaningful community outreach initiatives. He said events, like the cycle race, demonstrate a commitment to strengthening trust with citizens by combining discipline with inspiration and duty with social responsibility.
“Initiatives such as ‘Pedal Through Paradise’ are testimony to the fact that the Jammu and Kashmir Police have combined security with compassion, discipline with inspiration, and duty with social commitment, so that bonds of the heart may be forged with the people of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor urged stakeholders to work together for peace, progress and a healthy, prosperous and secure Jammu and Kashmir. He congratulated all participants for carrying forward the spirit of positive change through sports.
“It is the collective responsibility of all of us to provide the youth with platforms where their energy receives a positive direction, their talent receives encouragement, and their dreams receive the opportunity to be realised,” he added.
Meanwhile, he chaired a high-level meeting to review preparations for the observance of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) across the Union Territory.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is observed annually on October 31 to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and commemorate his contribution to the unification of India.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Chandraker Bharti and other senior civil administration and police officials.
Sinha directed officials to ensure smooth and peaceful arrangements for the ‘Run for Unity’ and the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas pledge, reflecting the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
Emphasising inclusive participation, he urged schoolchildren, youth, security personnel and citizens from all sections of society to take part in the programmes and foster national pride.
He also directed that unity runs and ceremonial parades be organised at district headquarters and police stations, along with national unity programmes in prisons across Jammu and Kashmir.
Urges young officers to serve with integrity
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday felicitated successful candidates of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 and the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) Examination 2024, urging them to uphold humility, compassion and integrity in public service.
Congratulating the candidates and their parents, Sinha said clearing competitive examinations was a significant achievement, but public office should be treated as a responsibility entrusted by the people rather than a personal privilege.
Addressing the young aspirants, the Lieutenant Governor said the true measure of good administration lay in improving the lives of ordinary citizens, particularly the most vulnerable sections of society.
“Public office is a trust reposed by the people,” he said, stressing that administrators must remain humble, sensitive to public concerns and committed to meaningful outcomes rather than the prestige associated with their positions.
Recalling Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s vision of the civil services as the “steel frame” of the nation, Sinha urged the successful candidates to preserve the dignity of public service and make decisions guided by evidence, compassion and ethical values.
“Behind every file lies a precious life. I urge you to also look at the data hidden behind files, and to recognise the people standing behind those figures and understand their needs,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor outlined a three-stage approach for the officers’ professional journey, asking them to first understand ground realities through direct engagement with citizens and local institutions, then develop transparent, technology-enabled systems to improve service delivery, and ultimately strengthen institutions while maintaining high ethical standards.
He said the policies and decisions of young public servants would play a significant role in shaping India’s development journey towards 2047.
Sinha encouraged the officers to focus on public welfare and ensure that their work brought tangible improvements to people’s lives.
“The responsibility of the future rests upon your shoulders,” he said, adding that their legacy should be defined by the outcomes they deliver for society rather than the status of their offices.
Rehana Batul, Director General, J&K Institute for Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (JKIMPARD); Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, SSP Srinagar; Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; Owais Ali Bhat, Director, Exceptional Academy, and other office-bearers attended the ceremony.
