KATHUA, MAY 15: Commissioner Secretary, Information, Planning, Development & Monitoring Department R. Alice Vaz today visited Bobiya village under the Vibrant Village Programme-II (VVP-II) and convened a public outreach programme to assess developmental needs and aspirations of border residents.
The programme is part of the initiative covering twin border villages Bobiya and Gajnal aimed at ensuring holistic and sustainable development in strategically important border areas.
Speaking on the occasion, R. Alice Vaz said the objective of the Vibrant Villages Programme is to bridge development gaps by strengthening infrastructure and addressing critical needs in connectivity, health, education, livelihoods and digital access in border areas.
She emphasized convergence and saturation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) and UT/State schemes and urged locals to extend full cooperation to the administration for smooth implementation of planned developmental works.
The Commissioner Secretary also stressed saturation of individual beneficiary schemes and highlighted the importance of integrating programmes such as HADP and Mission YUVA to maximize benefits for local residents.
Former PRI members of Bobiya appreciated the administration for adopting an inclusive and participatory approach in preparing development plans for the villages.
During the visit, Nodal Officer Bobiya and BDO Marheen Javed Iqbal and Nodal Officer Gajnal and Tehsildar Marheen Lekh Raj presented proposed development plans for the villages in the public meeting.
Later, the Commissioner Secretary reviewed proposed works with district and sectoral officers and assessed the status of ongoing schemes being implemented by departments including JPDCL, JAKEDA, Rural Development, Social Welfare, Agriculture, Jal Jeevan Mission and PMGSY to identify gaps and ensure saturation in these border villages.
Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rajesh Sharma briefed that the district has 216 border villages, including six near the zero line such as Bobiya, Gajnal, Rathua, Karol Krishna, Kadyala and Gujar Chak, which are being developed under VVP-II.
He informed that extensive consultations were held with residents and departments to prepare an inclusive development plan based on local aspirations and infrastructure needs.
Sub Divisional Magistrate Hiranagar Phulail Singh also presented a detailed profile of border villages and highlighted their strategic importance near the International Border.
The Commissioner Secretary also directed the administration to organize awareness camps on welfare schemes and skill development programmes to ensure maximum outreach in remote border areas.
