Associated News Bureau

LG Manoj Sinha Marks PM Modi’s Birthday with Children at Srinagar Care Homes , ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ Begins Across J&K with Focus on Public Welfare

Srinagar, September 17, 2026: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday joined children at the ‘Palaash’ and ‘Pareesha’ children’s homes in Srinagar to mark the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Lieutenant Governor distributed school bags, sports kits and sweets among the children and reviewed the residential facilities being provided for their care and well-being. Later, he visited the Children’s Hospital at Bemina, where he interacted with young patients and wished them a speedy recovery. The visit marked the beginning of the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, a month-long public service campaign being observed from September 17 to October 17. The campaign commemorates 25 years of the Prime Minister’s public service and includes a series of welfare-oriented and community activities. During the month-long campaign, 12 programmes are scheduled, including school competitions on the theme ‘Mere Sapno Ka Bharat’, felicitation of Anganwadi and ASHA workers, tree plantation drives, youth-oriented activities and registration camps under the Seva Setu Abhiyan. The Lieutenant Governor said that under the Seva Setu Abhiyan, three- to four-day camps would be organised at the block and ward levels until October 17 to facilitate the registration of eligible and deprived beneficiaries for various government welfare schemes. He appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the campaign and contribute to its objectives. “Hon’ble Prime Minister has worked day and night for 140 crore countrymen and has helped build a new and powerful Jammu Kashmir,” the Lieutenant Governor said, while highlighting various development and welfare indicators. Referring to the country’s economic performance, he said the GDP growth rate during the first quarter of 2026–27 stood at 7.8 per cent. He also cited government figures on poverty reduction and food security, stating that 25 crore people had moved above the poverty line and around 80 crore people were receiving free ration under the Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana. The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted the expansion of the national highway network and aviation infrastructure, stating that the length of National Highways had increased from 91,000 km to 1.46 lakh km, while the number of airports had risen from 74 to 165. He further noted that Kashmir had now been directly connected to the national railway network, describing the development as an important milestone for the region. Referring to various welfare initiatives, the Lieutenant Governor said that around 11 crore toilets, more than 10 crore LPG connections and four crore houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana had been provided across the country, while another three crore houses were under construction. He said Jammu and Kashmir was witnessing significant changes in infrastructure and public welfare and expressed confidence that the Union Territory would continue to progress towards greater prosperity and improved quality of life. The Lieutenant Governor called upon citizens to participate actively in the month-long service campaign and contribute to community welfare and public service initiatives. ANB