J&K LG outlines Vibrant Villages Programme to integrate border populations into national mainstream

On the eve of the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the Centre is implementing a comprehensive strategy under the Vibrant Villages Programme to integrate border populations into the national mainstream, with focus on livelihood generation, infrastructure and connectivity. The programme aims to saturate all border villages in four thematic areas: all-weather road connectivity, telecom connectivity, television connectivity and electrification, through convergence under existing scheme norms. He emphasized elevating border settlements from neglect to national progress, highlighted Regal in Samba as a symbol of border villages' importance, and announced commitments including ensuring that by 2030 no border village family in Samba remains below the poverty line and providing land ownership rights to displaced persons. He also visited the Regal Border Out Post and praised jawans for their role in Operation Sindoor.

Border villages in Rajouri, Poonch, Kupwara and Baramulla districts were targeted by shelling in 2025, resulting in around 21 civilian deaths and damage to dozens of structures.