Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s participation in the Kashmir Marathon has strengthened trust and unity in the Valley and has enhanced Kashmir’s image as a safe, open, and welcoming tourist destination.
The Lieutenant Governor made these remarks during his Republic Day address at the Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu on Monday. He said that the Kashmir Marathon is being developed as a symbol of tourism and unity, which will give a new direction to sports tourism and destination branding in Jammu and Kashmir.
Manoj Sinha said that after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the government has taken several concrete steps to revive tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. Such events have sent the message that Kashmir is completely safe and ready to welcome tourists with open arms. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s participation in the Kashmir Marathon has further strengthened people’s confidence.
He stated that the Kashmir Marathon is being positioned as a global hub for sports and wellness tourism. This initiative will play a key role in establishing a new international identity for the Valley.
The Lieutenant Governor also announced on the occasion that the first edition of the Jammu Marathon has been officially launched, to be held in March 2026.
Focus on Youth through Mission Yuva
In his speech, LG Sinha also elaborated on the government’s ambitious program, “Mission Yuva.”
He stated that this scheme promotes entrepreneurship by providing youth with skill development, comprehensive mentorship, and financial support.
He added that under the capacity-building component of Mission Yuva, a hybrid entrepreneurship development course has been launched, through which over 5,000 youth have completed training, laying a strong foundation for establishing sustainable self-employment and enterprises.
Target of 1.35 Lakh Entrepreneurial Units
The Lieutenant Governor stated that under Mission Yuva, a target was set to establish 1.35 lakh entrepreneurial units, which are expected to provide employment to approximately 4.5 lakh youth.
In the first year of implementation, more than 1.51 lakh youth have registered on the platform. Of these, 61,941 youth have applied under various credit-linked schemes. More than 12,000 cases have been approved by banks, involving loans worth over ₹800 crore.
Transparency in Government Recruitments
Manoj Sinha stated that merit-based recruitment has been ensured for 7,650 government positions by 2025. Furthermore, the recruitment process for more than 23,800 positions is currently underway, strengthening transparency and fairness in government employment.
He informed that 910 compassionate appointments have been granted by 2025, helping affected families lead a dignified life after the untimely death of their primary breadwinner.
This includes 464 Next of Kin (NoK) cases of terror-affected families, including victims of the Kathua incident, Operation Sindoori, and the Nowgam incident.
Transformations in the Industrial and Agricultural Sectors
The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted the industrial transformation taking place in Jammu and Kashmir. He informed that since 2020, 2,227 industrial units have commenced production, with an investment of ₹15,940 crore and employment generated for 73,827 people.
Furthermore, 1,028 units with a proposed investment of ₹27,613 crore have started groundwork. Of these, 396 units with an investment of ₹9,949 crore are expected to commence production by March 2026.
Referring to achievements in the agricultural sector, he described the “Yellow Revolution” as a major source of increasing farmers’ income.
He said that claims worth Rs 805 crore have been approved under the New Central Sector Scheme. Meanwhile, 1,316 Jammu and Kashmir-based startups are registered on the DPIIT (Startup India) portal, including 471 women-led startups.
The Lieutenant Governor said that progress made in health, sports, urban development, handicrafts, and other key sectors is taking Jammu and Kashmir forward towards development, peace, and stability.
