Highlights achievements in education, health sectors; Says Govt committed to provide housing to all, welfare of Kashmiri migrant families; UT has 2 lakh Lakhpati Didis, records 82 crore e-transactions
Jammu, Jan 26 :
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday called upon people of all generations to come together to make Jammu and Kashmir a land of equal opportunities for all.
Addressing the main Republic Day event at Jammu, LG Sinha, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said, “I call upon people of all generations to come together and actively support us in building the Jammu and Kashmir of our collective dreams—a Jammu and Kashmir where youth have equal opportunities, where women-led development drives economic growth and social stability, and where unity, peace, and commitment guide us towards a brighter and more prosperous future.”
172 ATAL TINKERING LABS ESTABLISHED
LG Sinha said, “A total of 172 Atal Tinkering labs have already been established, with 500 more under implementation under the Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Aayog. In addition, 1,420 Computer-Aided Learning (CAL) Centres and 1,588 ICT labs have been established, while 1,512 ICT labs and 4,000 smart classrooms are under various stages of establishment. Records of 34.50 lakh students of Classes X, XI, and XII have been uploaded on DigiLocker by JKBOSE as part of the digital transformation initiative. To address gender gaps in literacy, special emphasis is being laid on girls’ education. Residential facilities with free boarding, lodging, and stipends are being provided to over 5,000 girl students of Classes VI to VIII in 89 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs).”
JAMMU, KASHMIR UNIVERSITIES GET NAAC ACCREDITATION
LG Sinha said, “The University of Jammu and the University of Kashmir have been accredited with A++ grade by NAAC. Additionally, 74 Government Degree Colleges have received NAAC accreditation, and sustained efforts are underway to ensure accreditation of all colleges to enhance quality in higher education. Emphasis is also being laid on research and innovation. The Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations (CIRI) at the University of Kashmir has secured a mega Indo-US research grant under the SPARC Scheme. Similarly, the University of Jammu Research Fund (UoJRF) has been established to strengthen research activities across disciplines.”
SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURAL UPGRADATION IN HEALTH SECTOR
LG Sinha said, “Significant infrastructural upgradation in the health sector has led to unprecedented improvements in public healthcare delivery. More than 4,000 health infrastructure facilities have been developed, including 15 Medical Colleges, two AIIMS, and two State Cancer Institutes.
During the current year, 548 medical seats have been added, comprising 340 MBBS, 128 PG, 34 PG (Ayurveda), and 46 DNB seats.
23 48. A 160-bedded state-of-the-art additional block at the Bone & Joint Hospital, Srinagar, aimed at strengthening orthopaedic and trauma care services across the region, has been completed and operationalised since July, 2025. Further, two new Cath Labs at GMC, Anantnag and GMC, Jammu have been dedicated to the public. The process has also been initiated for establishing Cath Labs at GMC, Rajouri and GMC, Baramulla.”
He said, “Under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), 17 Critical Care Blocks (two 100-bedded and twelve 50-bedded) are under construction to manage life-threatening emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks. Upon completion, these facilities will add 950 critical care beds to the existing capacity. Additionally, 20 Integrated District Public Health Laboratories are under construction to strengthen diagnostic services at the district level.”
SEHAT APP LAUNCHED TO ENHANCE HEALTHCARE DELIVERY
LG Sinha said, “The SEHAT App has been launched to enhance healthcare delivery by integrating services, providers, and patients on a single digital platform. More than 16 lakh users have registered and are availing services such as blood banks, diagnostic centres, dialysis services, emergency care, health insurance, physiotherapy, and access to both public and private healthcare facilities.”
GOVT COMMITTED TO ENSURE ADEQUATE HOUSING
He said, “The Government is committed to ensure adequate housing with access to basic amenities for every poor family. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin, 3.21 lakh houses have been completed, while construction of the remaining 14,000 houses is in progress. Land is also being provided to landless beneficiaries under the scheme.”
LG Sinha said, “Planned development of residential infrastructure in satellite cities is progressing, with new townships and mass housing colonies being developed at Kot Bhalwal, Chatterhama, and Gund Aksa. Under the Smart City Mission, 277 projects have been completed. Under AMRUT 2.0, 90 projects worth over ₹1,000 crore have
been approved, of which 17 have been completed and 67 are under execution, aimed at improving sanitation, water supply, and rejuvenation of water bodies.”
EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO TRANSFORM URBAN AREAS INTO GARBAGE-FREE CITIES
He said, “Under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, focused efforts are underway to transform urban areas into Garbage-Free Cities through improved sanitation and waste management systems. Seventy-eight Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) have been certified Open Defecation Free (ODF). A total of 49 Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and 50 composite pits have been completed, while construction of 16 additional MRFs and 14 composite pits is in progress. Further, two Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects have been taken up for Jammu and Srinagar—work in Jammu is underway, and the DPR for Srinagar has been prepared.”
J&K YOUTH ACHIEVING REMARKABLE SUCCESS IN SPORTS
He said, “Beyond excellence in innovation and academics, the youth of Jammu & Kashmir are also achieving remarkable success in sports. Para-archers Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar have created history through their extraordinary perseverance and dedication, inspiring an entire generation to aspire for excellence and scale new heights.”
He said, “The youth of Jammu and Kashmir are being provided ample opportunities to participate in a wide range of sports disciplines. Jammu & Kashmir successfully conducted the 5th edition of its flagship Winter Sports Programme, reinforcing its position as India’s premier winter sports destination. These events not only enhanced competitive standards but also boosted sports tourism and generated livelihood opportunities.”
MAIDEN KHELO INDIA WATER SPORTS FESTIVAL
“In a historic milestone, the Union Territory hosted the first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival, unlocking the immense potential of its lakes and rivers and giving fresh momentum to rowing, kayaking, and other water-based disciplines. More than 500 athletes from 28 States/UTs participated in the event. The hosting of the 3rd Asian Pencak Silat Championship, with participation of about 300 athletes from over 12 countries, marked a historic moment and showcased J&K’s organisational excellence and growing international sporting footprint.”
He said, “The Kashmir Super League emerged as a landmark sporting event, recording over 10 million digital views and attracting more than 35,000 spectators during its grand finale.”
LG Sinha said, “Modern sports infrastructure is being developed to ensure a bright future for young athletes. So far, 2 Centres of Excellence and 92 Khelo India Centres have been established across all 20 Districts of the Union Territory.”
J&K ADMIN COMMITTED TO RESETTLEMENT, WELFARE OF KASHMIRI MIGRANT FAMILIES
He said, “The Jammu and Kashmir Administration remains fully committed to the resettlement and welfare of Kashmiri migrant families. A total of 6,000 flats has been sanctioned for Kashmiri migrant employees working in the Valley, against which 3,736 flats have been completed and 3,250 allotted to eligible migrant families. The remaining flats are scheduled for completion by March, 2026. Efforts have also been made to extend the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat – SEHAT health insurance scheme to migrant families, with more than 1,200 families registered so far.”
Tribal community effectively mainstreamed
He said, “After a long wait, the tribal community in Jammu and Kashmir has been effectively mainstreamed. An amount of ₹8.18 crore has been disbursed to more than 1.5 lakh Scheduled Tribe students under pre and post-matric scholarship schemes since April, 2025.”
The state-of-the-art Tribal Research Institute (TRI) Complex at Khimber, Srinagar, is functioning as a dedicated think tank for research, training, and capacity building in tribal development.
He said, “Janjatiya Gaurav Divas was celebrated at Mendhar in Poonch District—a frontier border district of India on 15th of November, 2025, to commemorate the 151st birth anniversary of the revered tribal freedom fighter Shri Birsa Munda. Over 3,000 participants attended the event, reflecting the rich tribal art, culture, and heritage of the Union Territory.”
28 GUJJAR & BAKERWAL/SCHEDULED TRIBE HOSTELS OPERATIONAL IN J&K
He said, “At present, 28 Gujjar & Bakerwal/Scheduled Tribe hostels are operational in the Union Territory, accommodating 2,895 students and providing free boarding, lodging, and education to BPL students from Class VI onwards.
Additionally, 26 new hostels are under construction across various districts, of which 10 are nearing completion and are expected to become functional during 2025–26.”
NEW FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE LAUNCHED
He said, “A new flagship initiative has been launched to achieve saturation-level service delivery through key interventions covering health, education, livelihood, and infrastructure. A total of 393 villages across 112 blocks in 20 Districts have been identified for implementation. An amount of ₹47.98 crore has been approved for the year 2025–26 under this scheme.”
LG Sinha said, “I firmly believe that ensuring the upliftment and development of the last person standing in the last queue is the true measure of inclusive progress.”
ROBUST SCRUTINY OF ALL PENSION SCHEMES ENSURED
He said, “Robust scrutiny of all pension schemes for senior citizens has been ensured.
For the welfare of persons with disabilities, several initiatives have been undertaken to make them self-reliant and active contributors to the development journey.”
LG Sinha said, “Utmost priority has been accorded to the nutrition of children and women, with data of 8.43 lakh beneficiaries uploaded on the Nutrition Tracker for continuous health monitoring. Initiatives such as “Laadli Beti” and the State Marriage Assistance Scheme are restoring dignity, honour, and respect for women in society.
During the financial year 2025–26, more than 10 lakh beneficiaries have received financial assistance under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and the Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS), covering old-age persons, widows, and persons with disabilities.”
LG Sinha said, “Sustained efforts to empower rural women have brought about transformative changes in their lives. Around 8 lakh women are associated with more than 94,000 Self Help Groups (SHGs).”
2 LAKH LAKHPATI DIDIS IN J&K
He said, “Jammu & Kashmir has successfully created 2 lakh Lakhpati Didis, achieving 86% of the target, enabling them to become self-reliant through micro-enterprises. Additionally, 50 Lakhpati Didis have achieved annual income exceeding ₹10 lakh, emerging as Millionaire Didis. Various training and capacity-building programmes have been organised for over 3,000 Agriculture Community Resource Persons to provide last-mile support to women farmers associated with SHGs. Under the Rural Livelihood Mission, 3,000 micro-startups have been supported in the past year. Advanced training has also been imparted to 5,000 women entrepreneurs from SHGs to help them scale up their businesses.”
He said, “The digital revolution has imparted fresh momentum to the development of Jammu and Kashmir and has significantly strengthened transparent, accountable, and corruption-free governance in the Union Territory. More than 1,500 public services are now available online. To ensure timely service delivery, 391 services have been integrated with the auto-appeal system.”
J&K RECORDED 82 CRORE E-TRANSACTIONS
“During the previous year, Jammu and Kashmir recorded 82 crore e-transactions, averaging over 22 lakh electronic transactions per day. Additionally, 128 government services have been integrated with DigiLocker. Aadhaar seeding has been completed for all beneficiaries of welfare schemes, enabling seamless Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into beneficiaries’ bank accounts. During the current financial year, an amount of ₹9,000 crore has been directly transferred to the accounts of 80 lakh beneficiaries under 77 DBT-based schemes.
The Government has also formulated a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy, focusing on key sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, mobility, education, and law enforcement.”
He said, “Jammu and Kashmir is among the fastest-growing States/Union Territories in the country. GST revenue collections have shown steady growth, increasing from ₹8,064 crore in 2023–24 to ₹8,586 crore in 2024–25. Revenue from electric power tariffs has also witnessed a substantial increase of 16 per cent during 2024–25.”
SPECIAL ASSISTANCE TO STATES FOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT (SASCI) SCHEME EXTENDED TO J&K
LG Sinha said, “The Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme, which provides interest-free loans for capital expenditure, has been extended to Jammu and Kashmir from the current financial year. Under this scheme, ₹1,431crore has been sanctioned for 222 projects, along with ₹210 crore as the matching share for 12 Centrally Sponsored Schemes. The first installment of ₹1,083 crore, representing 66 percent of the sanctioned amount, has already been received.”
He said, “With the support of the Union Territory Government, Jammu and Kashmir Bank has undertaken significant reforms aimed at professionalising management, ensuring meritbased selection of senior leadership, and strengthening its capital base. These measures have resulted in a remarkable turnaround, with net NPAs declining from 4.89 per cent to 0.85 percent, and capital adequacy improving from 12.46 per cent to 14.99 per cent between March, 2019 and September, 2025.”
EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO EXTEND BENEFITS OF PM SHRAM YOGI MAANDHAN YOJANA TO ALL
He said, “To secure the future of workers in the unorganised sector, over 36.15 lakh labourers have been registered on the e-Shram portal. Efforts are underway to extend the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana to all eligible workers, with more than 78,000 workers already registered. In addition, over 1.27 lakh eligible farmers have been enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana.”
He said, “I have full faith in the immense potential of our youth. We are committed to creating a conducive environment that enables them to realise their long-term goals and aspirations. The pace of inclusive development in Jammu and Kashmir is unprecedented, and we are determined to strengthen it further through a strong partnership with the people. One of the most serious challenges confronting us today is drug abuse among the youth, and we must collectively address this menace. For sustainable development, our society must remain united, courageous, and disciplined in confronting those who promote, justify, or condone terrorism. We must decisively dismantle the terror ecosystem and isolate elements that employ double standards to justify acts of violence.”
He said, “I assure every citizen that this Government, with firm resolve, will continue to create and pursue meaningful opportunities for all, enabling every individual to shape their own destiny and realise new aspirations. I call upon people of all generations to come together and actively support us in building the Jammu and Kashmir of our collective dreams—a Jammu and Kashmir where youth have equal opportunities, where women-led development drives economic growth and social stability, and where unity, peace, and commitment guide us towards a brighter and more prosperous future.”