LG urges youth in border areas to compete with their peers in cities
Srinagar, September 29: Calling the youth the torchbearers of India’s rich tradition of knowledge and culture, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said youngsters from border areas are brimming with courage and talent and are an inspiration for the entire nation.
Addressing a felicitation ceremony for meritorious students organised by the Wadies Hindi Shiksha Samiti in collaboration with the Jammu Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, the Lieutenant Governor said the real development of Jammu and Kashmir would be realised when children in border villages could confidently pursue and fulfil their dreams.
“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.
Sinha stressed that youth living in border areas should have access to the same opportunities as their counterparts in metropolitan cities.
“Our youth should not lag behind those living in any metro city of the country. All scholarships, digital platforms, training programmes and competition opportunities at national and international levels must also be accessible to the youth in border areas,” he said, urging students to “dream big and scale new heights.”
Extending his greetings to the students, teachers, parents and organisers, the Lieutenant Governor said the meritorious students being honoured were not merely winners of a competition but torchbearers of India’s rich traditions of knowledge, literature and culture.
Highlighting the importance of the mother tongue, Sinha said it was not merely a medium of communication but an expression of identity, memory and sensibility. He said Jammu and Kashmir’s linguistic diversity reflected the confluence of India’s shared cultural heritage.
He noted that the National Education Policy places emphasis on early education in the mother tongue and Indian languages, enabling children to learn and develop confidence while remaining connected to their roots.
The Lieutenant Governor said children must remain rooted in their heritage while being given the opportunity to embrace science, technology and modern knowledge and compete at the global level.
Outlining 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—Sinha called upon officials to ensure that young people in remote areas receive adequate support.
“We must ensure 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,” he said.
He also encouraged youngsters to channel their energy into constructive pursuits through education, sports, literature and art.
The Lieutenant Governor urged students to take pride in their language and culture while embracing modern knowledge and technology. He lauded the Wadies Hindi Shiksha Samiti and its office-bearers for their efforts to promote the Hindi language and wished the meritorious students a bright future.