Srinagar, Sep 29 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday called for focused efforts to empower youth in border areas through education, technology, entrepreneurship, sports, culture and mentorship.

Addressing a felicitation ceremony for meritorious students organised by Wadies Hindi Shiksha Samiti in collaboration with the Jammu Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Sinha said the younger generation is the torchbearer of India's rich tradition of knowledge, literature and culture.

“The real development of Jammu Kashmir will come when a child in our border villages can say with confidence, ‘I can fulfil my dreams’. I know that the children and youth of border areas are brimming with courage and talent and they are an inspiration for the entire nation,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor outlined five key areas for youth empowerment in border areas — education and technology, employment and entrepreneurship, sports and culture, access to opportunities, and guidance and mentorship.

He called for ensuring that smart classrooms, digital libraries and skill-development opportunities reach remote villages.

“We must create opportunities for youth in handicrafts, horticulture, agriculture, tourism, and local industries so that they become not just job-seekers but also job-creators,” Sinha said.

He also stressed that youth from border areas should have access to scholarships, digital platforms, training programmes and opportunities to participate in competitions at national and international levels.

“Our youth should not lag behind those living in any metro city of the country,” he said, directing officials to ensure that opportunities available to youth in urban areas also reach those living in remote and border villages.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Sinha further called for regular mentorship programmes for children from border areas and suggested that well-known professionals from Jammu and Kashmir visit them twice a year or interact with them through programmes in Srinagar and Jammu.

Highlighting the importance of language and culture, the LG said the mother tongue was not merely a means of communication but was connected with identity, memory and cultural heritage.

He urged students to take pride in their language and culture while embracing 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 said.

Sinha congratulated the meritorious students and appreciated the efforts of Wadies Hindi Shiksha Samiti in promoting the Hindi language.

Principal Secretary Culture Brij Mohan Sharma, Commissioner Secretary School Education Ram Niwas Sharma, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, SSP Srinagar G V Sundeep Chakravarthy, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo and Secretary JKAACL Harvinder Kour, among other senior officials, attended the ceremony.

Representatives of Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, Vaishvik Hindi Parivar and Wadies Hindi Shiksha Samiti, prominent citizens, heads of educational institutions, teachers and students of Army Goodwill Schools and Kendriya Vidyalayas were also present. (KNS)