Manoj Sinha promotes development in Kathua border villages

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited several strategic border villages in the Kathua district, including Karol Krishna, Rathua, Gujjar Chak, Gajnal, Bobiya, and Kadiyala. These areas are part of the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP-2).

Sinha emphasized that border settlements should be viewed as “India’s first villages” and gateways to the nation rather than its periphery. He reported significant developmental progress in the region since 2019, noting that all 216 border villages in Kathua are now connected by roads and have full electrification. Additionally, telecommunications and television access have reached households, and over 2,000 individual and community bunkers have been constructed for resident safety.

Economic indicators cited by the Lieutenant Governor include a 30 per cent increase in rural incomes, a halving of urban migration, and a reduction in unemployment to nearly half of previous levels. He also highlighted the impact of the National Rural Livelihood Mission, which has established over 1,300 self-help groups benefiting more than 12,000 families through enterprises such as tailoring and handicrafts.