Modi’s vision for J&K border: Roads, jobs, tourism, and a brighter future for remote villages
Vikram Sharma
JAMMU: The border villages of Jammu and Kashmir, which have stood resilient against repeated challenges from across the border, are now set for a significant transformation under the central government’s focused development strategy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has honored the people living in these strategically important villages by referring to them as the “first sentinels” of the nation. Their crucial role in national security has paved the way for their inclusion in key development programs, ensuring that progress reaches even the remotest corners of the country.
A major boost is coming through the second phase of the Vibrant Village Program (VVP), which now includes Jammu and Kashmir for the first time with 100 percent central assistance. Launched in 2023 initially for villages along the China border, the program has now been extended to J&K in recognition of its strategic significance, especially along the 192 km long border shared with Pakistan.
The Rs 6,839 crore initiative, to be completed by 2029, focuses on infrastructure expansion, tourism development, education, and livelihood opportunities in the border areas.
Under this scheme, Vibrant Village Action Plans will be created in collaboration with local panchayats and district administrations. These plans aim for complete saturation of central and state schemes, ensuring no family or region is left behind.
Key components will include smart classrooms, better education infrastructure, and enhanced security measures, such as accelerated bunker construction and the raising of two women border battalions for Jammu and Kashmir.
All-weather road connectivity remains a top priority. Prime Minister Modi, while addressing a rally in Katra, emphasized the goal of constructing 1,800 kilometers of roads across 400 villages, with an additional budget of Rs 4,200 crore allocated separately from the Vibrant Village Program. These roads will not only enhance mobility and security but will also improve access to schools, hospitals, and markets.
To further empower local communities, the government has also implemented a three percent reservation for residents of border districts in jobs and admissions to business establishments.
This policy, initiated in 2021 for the Jammu division, covers areas within a six-kilometer radius from the border and is aimed at uplifting the youth with new economic opportunities.
In an important development, plans are underway to integrate tourism into border development. The unique culture, natural beauty, and strategic relevance of these villages will be showcased to attract tourists, boosting the local economy and fostering national integration.
Through these comprehensive measures, the central government envisions turning Jammu and Kashmir’s border villages into symbols of resilience, prosperity, and national pride.
