Sinha felicitates meritorious students at Hindi language event; calls for smart classrooms, digital libraries and skill development in remote villages
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 29 :
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday called for comprehensive empowerment of youth living in border and remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir, stressing the need to provide them equal access to education, technology, entrepreneurship, sports, culture and mentorship opportunities.
The Lieutenant Governor was speaking at a felicitation ceremony organised by Wadies Hindi Shiksha Samiti in collaboration with the Jammu Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) to honour meritorious students.
Congratulating the students, teachers, parents and organisers, Sinha said the young achievers were not merely winners of a competition but represented the rich Indian tradition of knowledge, literature and culture.
He emphasised the importance of preserving and promoting the mother tongue, describing it as an important part of identity, memory and cultural sensibility. He said Jammu and Kashmir’s linguistic diversity reflects the broader confluence of India’s shared cultural heritage.
The Lieutenant Governor noted that the National Education Policy gives special importance to early education in the mother tongue and Indian languages, enabling children to learn with greater confidence while remaining connected to their cultural roots.
‘Border children must be able to dream with confidence’
Sinha said the real measure of development in Jammu and Kashmir would be achieved when children living in border villages are able to pursue their aspirations with confidence.
“The real development of Jammu Kashmir will come when a child in our border villages can say with confidence, ‘I can fulfil my dreams.’”
He said children and youth in border areas possess courage, talent and determination and can serve as an inspiration for the entire country.
Five-point focus for youth empowerment
The Lieutenant Governor outlined five key areas for empowering youth in border regions: education and technology, employment and entrepreneurship, sports and culture, connecting youth with opportunities, and guidance and mentorship.
He called upon officials to ensure that modern educational infrastructure reaches remote villages.
“We must ensure that smart classrooms, digital libraries, and skill-development opportunities reach remote villages.”
Sinha also stressed the need to expand livelihood opportunities in sectors including handicrafts, horticulture, agriculture, tourism and local industries, enabling young people to become entrepreneurs and job creators rather than remaining dependent solely on employment opportunities.
He urged that books, sports equipment, technology and artistic activities should reach young people so that their energy and talent receive a productive and creative direction.
Scholarships, digital platforms must reach border areas
The Lieutenant Governor said youth living in border areas should not be disadvantaged compared with students in metropolitan cities.
He directed that scholarships, digital learning platforms, training programmes and national and international competition opportunities should be made accessible to young people in remote and border areas.
He further called for experienced professionals from Jammu and Kashmir to regularly interact with students from these areas.
Sinha suggested that prominent professionals should visit such children at least twice a year or provide mentorship and guidance through programmes organised in Srinagar and Jammu.
‘Take pride in language, culture while embracing modern knowledge’
Addressing the students, the Lieutenant Governor encouraged them to remain connected with their language and cultural heritage while simultaneously developing expertise in science, technology, entrepreneurship and modern knowledge.
“Each student possesses special ability. They should transform that ability into responsibility. Take pride in your language, understand your culture, and at the same time move forward to touch new horizons in science, technology, entrepreneurship and modern knowledge.”
He appreciated the efforts of Wadies Hindi Shiksha Samiti in promoting the Hindi language and extended his best wishes to all the students who were felicitated during the event.
Senior officials, educators attend ceremony
The felicitation ceremony was attended by Brij Mohan Sharma, Principal Secretary, Culture Department; Ram Niwas Sharma, Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department; Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, SSP Srinagar; Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; Harvinder Kour, Secretary JKAACL; and Nasreen Ali Nidhi, National President, Wadies Hindi Shiksha Samiti.
Office-bearers of Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, Vaishvik Hindi Parivar and Wadies Hindi Shiksha Samiti, along with prominent citizens, heads of educational institutions, teachers and students from Army Goodwill Schools and Kendriya Vidyalayas were also present.
The event highlighted the importance of recognising student achievement while strengthening language, culture, education and opportunities for the younger generation across Jammu and Kashmir.