SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has mandated the deployment of 35 senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers to oversee the implementation of the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP-II). The initiative, aimed at fostering comprehensive and sustainable development in villages situated along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC), commenced with a government order issued on April 27, 2026.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the officers, whose names are listed in an annexure to Government Order No. 834–JK(GAD) of 2026, have been assigned specific border villages. Their duties will span May and June 2026, focusing on strengthening grassroots governance and improving essential services and infrastructure in these remote areas.
The Vibrant Villages Programme-II is designed to address the unique developmental challenges faced by border communities. Its objectives include enhancing service delivery mechanisms, improving socio-economic conditions, and bolstering the overall quality of life for residents in these strategically important regions of the Union Territory.
Deputy Commissioners across the concerned districts have been instructed to provide necessary logistical and administrative support to the deployed officers, facilitating their field visits. All line departments have been directed to extend full cooperation and furnish the required data and information promptly to ensure the smooth execution of the program.
The assigned officers are tasked with conducting thorough field visits to their allocated villages. During these visits, they will review the existing infrastructure, assess service delivery in key sectors such as connectivity, health, education, and livelihoods, and identify critical gaps. A significant part of their mandate involves engaging with local stakeholders, including Border Guarding Forces, residents, and civil society organizations, to gather ground-level insights and foster community participation.
Furthermore, the officers will be responsible for ensuring the convergence of various central and Union Territory schemes to maximize their impact. They are also expected to guide village nodal officers and district administrations in the preparation of comprehensive Village Action Plans. These plans will be formulated based on baseline data and gap analysis, providing a roadmap for targeted development interventions. Detailed reports on their findings and proposed actions are to be submitted to the Planning, Development and Monitoring Department by June 30, 2026.
Among the 35 IAS officers deployed, Shaleen Kabra, Financial Commissioner of the Jal Shakti Department, has been assigned Garkhri and RakhKhanor in Akhnoor, Jammu. Ashwani Kumar from the Power Development Department will oversee Jabowal Khurd and Kaku Da Kotha in Arnia, Jammu. Ashish Chandra of the Tourism Department will focus on Kanachak and Beli Bakavan in Marh, Jammu, while Shailendra Kumar from the Finance Department has been assigned Bhalwal Bharat and Maljodha in Paragwal, Jammu. Anil Kumar Singh of the Public Works R&B Department will monitor Chakrali and Golpattan in Marh, Jammu.
Other IAS officers and their assignments include Chandrakar Bharti (Home Department) to Kot Maira and Khour in Jammu district; Brij Mohan (IFS, Culture Department) to Mangu Chak and Regal in Rajpura, Samba; Saurabh Bhagat (Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs) to Machil and Har During in Kupwara; Mandeep Kour (Housing and Urban Development Department) to Abdulian and Badyal Brahmana in RS Pura, Jammu; and R. Alice Vaz (Planning, Monitoring and Development Department) to Bobiya and Gajnal in Marheen, Kathua.
Sheetal Nanda (Forest Ecology and Environment) has been assigned Chakdulma and Chaklala in Samba; Yasha Mudgal (Cooperative Department) to Bulechak and Flora in Suchetgarh; Shahid Iqbal Choudhary (Youth Services and Sports) to Sariah and Sher in Nowshera, Rajouri; Sarmad Hafeez (Social Welfare Department) to Posh Pora and Kunaan in Trehgam, Kupwara; and Prasanna Ramaswamy G (Tribal Affairs Department) to Teetwal and Amroohi in Kupwara.
Vikramjit Singh (IPS, Industries and Commerce) will monitor Loharkote and Chappardhara in Sunderbani Panjgrain, Rajouri; Kumar Rajeev Ranjan (Labour and Employment) to Silauniyan and Chakatroo in Sathra, Poonch; Ram Niwas Sharma (School Education Department) to Salasan and Maidanan in Boniyar, Baramulla; and Talat Parvez Roohilla (Bureau of Public Enterprises) to Kamal Kote and ChoolanKalsan in Baramulla.
Rehana Batool (IMPARD) is assigned Dug Channi and Kandral in Samba; Mir Tariq Ali (Women and Child Development) to Trehgam in Kupwara; Piyush Singla (IT Department) to Silikote and Tulwari in Uri, Baramulla; Mohammad Ajaz (Rural Development and Panchayati Raj) to Shahpur and Nangali in Poonch; and SL Naveen (Civil Aviation Department) to Bedar Balnai and Chhamber Kanari in Mandi, Poonch.
Avny Lavasa (Transport Department) has been assigned Kushalpur and Nai Basti Gulabgarh in Suchetgarh; Anjali Sehrawat (Jal Jeevan Mission) to Dhailan and Dehrian in Khour; Vikas Kundal (JKSSB) to Gund Gajra and Jabdi in Teetwal; Nazim Zai Khan (FCS and CA Kashmir) to Nawa Gabra in Tangdhar; Narinder Singh Bali (Dairy Development Mission) to Dardpora in Sogam; Ajaz Ahmad Bhat (Sericulture) to Alachi Zab in Qadirabad; Majid Khalil Drabu (Commissioner of Enquiries) to Rawathpora in Roddi Chokibal; Owais Ahmad (Skill Development) to Purana Tulail and Neeru in Bandipora; Akriti Sagar (NHM) to Rangoor and SM Pur in Samba; Shreya Singhal (JKTDC) to Suchetgarh; and Ananth Dwivedi (State Health Agency) to Nanga and Nathwal in Ramgarh, Samba.
The list of JKAS officers includes Zubair Ahmad (Floriculture Parks and Gardens), Bablila Rakwal (Science and Technology), Tariq Hussain Ganai (JK Medical Supplies Corporation), Sajad Hussain Ganie (ICDS), Anoo Malhotra (Rural Sanitation), Bhawani Rakwal (Samagra Shiksha), Manzoor Ahmad Qadri (LCMA), Mahmood Ahmad Shah (KPDCL), Mohammad Rafi (Srinagar Development Authority), Shubhra Sharma (Rural Livelihood Mission), Inder Jeet (Survey and Land Records), Shiv Kumar Gupta (Legal Metrology), Rajesh Kumar Shavan (Food Civil Supplies Jammu), Om Prakash (Forensic Laboratory), Sudershan Kumar (JK Trade Promotion), Abdul Rashid War (JKRTC), Arun Kumar Manhas (Industries Commerce), Pankaj Magotra (Command Area Development), Masrat-ul-Islam (Handloom & Handicrafts), Firdous Ahmad Giri (RUSA), Mohammad Nazir Sheikh (Handloom and Handicrafts Jammu), Harvinder Kour (JKAACL), Vikas Gupta (Tourism Jammu), Pawan Kumar Sharma (JK Mineral Limited), Charandeep Singh (Labour Commissioner), Kapil Sharma (Urban Local Bodies), Suraj Prakash Rakwal (Geology and Mining), Sham Lal (Panchayati Raj), Kuldeep Krishan Sidha (Archives, Archaeology and Museums), Shahnaz Akhter (Rural Development), Ranjeet Singh (Social Welfare), Rajnish Kumar (CEO IWMP), and Basharat (partially visible).
The government has emphasized that the progress of the Vibrant Villages Programme-II will be closely monitored to ensure effective implementation and the achievement of measurable development outcomes in the identified border and remote villages.
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