If borders are safe, prosperity will follow in all areas: Lt Governor

Samba, Dec 7: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Tuesday visited the border areas of Samba district and reviewed the developmental scenario, besides interacting with the brave BSF Jawans at the Chamliyal BoP.
The Lt Governor also paid obeisance at the revered shrine of Baba Chamliyal near international border, where he prayed for the peace, prosperity and the well being of the people of J&K.
At the BSF Border outpost, the Lt Governor observed the International border and interacted with Jawans of BSF and lauded their commitment and devotion to the duty.
He remarked that if borders are safe, prosperity will follow in all the areas.
Later, addressing the gathering of local people and PRI representatives, the Lt Governor observed that the J&K Administration is committed to ensure that the border villages have best infrastructure at par with developed towns.
“J&K has started development ‘Utsav’ in bordering villages. Our aim is to provide maximum resources to the bordering villages”, he added.
The Lt Governor also launched “Panchayat Darpan” App, first web portal in J&K UT designed and created by NIC samba, which provides information regarding Panchayats’ profiles, department wise Schemes, Social Security schemes, panchayat wise data on development works, grievances, financial achievements, auditing, and other aspects of various line departments.
Interacting with PRI representatives and public of border area, the Lt Governor took first hand appraisal of the impact of different government schemes and welfare measures.
In order to give impetus to establishing good governance and accentuating development in border areas of UT, a separate provision will be kept in the UT budget for Border Area Development, the Lt Governor announced.
While addressing the gathering, the Lt Governor said that under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister, the UT government is tirelessly working to ensure that benefits of social security and welfare schemes percolate to every citizen.
Recalling the directions issued during LG Mulaqat program last year, the Lt Governor informed that the villages adjoining to the international border are given the benefit of the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act 2005, which they were not getting earlier. He added that taking cognizance of the issue of inclusion of villages adjoining the international border for benefits under J&K Reservation Act 2005, we decided to implement 3% reservation in 174 of those villages, this year.
The Lt Governor observed that specific thrust is being laid to extend all possible benefits to border population, besides continuously upgrading the health, education, electricity, and water supply infrastructure in the border areas.
“It is our primary responsibility to provide good roads, electricity, water, school facilities, employment to youth, job opportunities to the border villages and we are committed to it, he added.
The Lt Governor also informed that the pious land of Baba Dilip Singh Ji, Chamliyal, has recently been included in the Tourist Village Network by Mission Youth, placing it on the tourism map of the country. He observed that the step will bring comprehensive Development and new employment opportunities for the youth.
Terming youth as the builders of our present and future, the Lt Governor said that youth have significant role to play in making J&K a developed and prosperous region. The administration has started many programs keeping youth, women, farmers and deprived sections at the center of government policies, making them partners in the development journey of J&K, he added.
He appealed to youth and women of border areas to connect with programs like Rise Together, Mumkin, Hausal, Tejaswini, Saath, and other entrepreneurial programs in tourism sector, under which along with financial assistance, necessary training is also provided by the UT administration.
Speaking on the problems faced by the farmers of border belt, the Lt Governor asked the BSF authorities to work in coordination with the District Administration in facilitating the farming activities along the fence.
Regarding the problem of irrigation in Kandi areas, the Lt Governor assured that the administration is working towards providing sufficient supply of water in the areas.
“I am also aware of the canal water requirement for Kandi Belt and it will be resolved soon. Every year a large part of the fertile land gets washed away by the banks of the Basantar river. A project report of Rs 25 crore has been sent to the Central Water Commission for its permanent protection and after getting the technical approval, the Central Flood Control Department will also be requested to start work on that project soon”, he informed.
The Lt Governor said that various projects under different programs of the border area development have been completed since 2019.
The Lt Governor reiterated that the government is constantly making efforts to facilitate communication and speed up economic activities in the border villages.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor also presented the keys of commercial vehicles to two local youth under the ‘Mumkin’ Scheme.
Keshav Sharma, DDC Chairman; Members of DDC council Samba; BDC Chairman Ramgarh Block; Sarpanchs and Panchs were present on the occasion.
Mukesh Singh, ADGP Jammu; Dr Raghav Langer, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Anuradha Gupta, Deputy Commissioner Samba; Rajesh Sharma, SSP Samba; Senior officers of BSF; District Officers along with people of border villages were also present on the occasion.