Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday called upon the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to dream big, strive for excellence and contribute towards building a healthy and drug-free society, as he congratulated Jammu and Kashmir Police on the successful conclusion of Jashn-e-Dal 2026.
In his message, the Lieutenant Governor said sports celebrate human capability, perseverance and collective aspiration, while instilling determination, patience and courage among young people.
Highlighting the growing significance of Jashn-e-Dal, Sinha said the event had evolved beyond an annual competition into a cherished tradition emotionally connected with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Nearly 600 young athletes participated in 20 water-sports disciplines during the event, including kayaking, canoeing, rowing, sculling and the traditional shikara race, showcasing the region’s sporting potential and vibrant water-sports culture.
The Lieutenant Governor said sports provided a constructive path for youth empowerment by channelising their energy towards nation-building, creativity and positive social transformation. He urged athletes to pursue excellence with dedication and sincerity, while encouraging medal winners to remain humble and other participants to treat setbacks as stepping stones to future success.
Sinha also commended Jammu and Kashmir Police for its Civic Action Programme and youth-oriented initiatives, including Run for Unity and the upcoming Pedal for Paradise rally, saying such efforts had strengthened public trust, community participation and youth engagement.
At the concluding ceremony held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat announced that Jammu and Kashmir Police would organise 240 district-level sporting events this year, compared with 144 last year.
Prabhat said sports were an important component of the police’s civic action and public outreach programmes, helping promote discipline, teamwork and social harmony while steering young people away from drug abuse.
“Last year, we organised 144 sporting events with the support of the Government of India, while 240 events are being conducted this year at the district level,” he said.
The DGP stressed the importance of channelising youthful energy into constructive activities to tackle drug abuse and narco-terrorism.
He expressed hope that sustained efforts under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan would help protect young people from substance abuse.
Highlighting the police’s Bharat Darshan initiative, Prabhat said 1,789 children had been sent on tours last year, while the number had increased to 2,000 this year. He also noted that more than 6,000 people participated in the recently organised Run for Unity.
