Ahmed Fayyaz
BARAMULLA, March 25, 2025 – Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir is rewriting its story, emerging as a beacon of progress under the Aspirational District Program (ADP). NITI Aayog recently awarded it Rs. 3 crore for stellar strides in financial inclusion, skill development, digital literacy, and infrastructure—a recognition that underscores its journey from challenge to triumph. Led by District Development Commissioner (DDC) Minga Sherpa, Baramulla is proving that targeted governance can transform lives.
The district’s financial inclusion push is striking. Registrations under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) have surged, with over 98,000 individuals enrolled for Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans in 2024 alone, per local administration data. “My family now has a safety net,” says Mohammad Ashraf, a farmer from Sopore, who accessed insurance after a local awareness camp. Skill development is equally robust, targeting women and persons with disabilities. Take Razia Begum from Uri: once homebound, she now earns Rs. 8,000 monthly stitching clothes after a district-led training program.
Digital empowerment is bridging gaps too. Over 50 literacy camps in remote villages like Boniyar have trained 3,000+ residents since 2023, equipping them with skills to access e-services. “I booked my son’s exam form online myself,” beams Nusrat Jan from Pattan, a first-time smartphone user. This aligns with Baramulla’s climb from 108th to 46th in NITI Aayog’s ADP rankings, as noted in the Economic Survey 2024-25.
Housing initiatives shine under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G). In 2023, five landless families received 5 marlas of land each, overseen by Additional DDC Aijaz Abdullah Saraf and Assistant Commissioner Revenue Peerzada Mumtaz Ahmad. “We’re verifying more cases to ensure no one’s left out,” Saraf told reporters. Statewide, PMAY-G has sanctioned 3.21 crore houses by November 2024, with Baramulla leading in execution.
Education is another triumph. Eighteen innovative laboratory schools, launched in 2023, use hybrid learning and ICT tools to boost outcomes. At Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Bomai Sopore, students unveiled a School Voting Machine (SVM) in January 2025, a nod to the National Education Policy 2020. “It’s hands-on learning that excites us,” says 17-year-old Bilal Ahmed, an SVM co-creator. Posts on X echo pride: users hail Baramulla’s “education revolution” as a game-changer.
Youth empowerment drives Mission Yuva, launched January 2025. A baseline survey by 75 supervisors and 1,500 investigators mapped 57,000 unemployed youth and aspiring entrepreneurs across Panchayats. Built on four pillars—Culture, Capital, Capacity, and Connectivity—it offers funding, skills, and market links. At a recent orientation for Small Business Development Units (SBDUs), DDC Sherpa rallied 200+ participants: “This is your future—seize it.” Take Tariq Lone, 24, who opened a poultry unit in Dangiwacha with a Rs. 5 lakh JKREGP loan in 2024, now employing three others.
Infrastructure leaps forward with a Rs. 2.5 crore MoU between the administration and NHPC, signed in 2024, to develop five model border villages. Set for completion by November 2025, it upgrades schools, health centers, and power supply. In Mohura, a high-capacity DG set now powers PHC round-the-clock, while a 4×4 ambulance in Boniyar cuts emergency response times by 30%. “Before, we waited hours for help,” says Gulzar Ahmad, a Boniyar resident. A new dialysis center at Government Medical College, Baramulla, has served 150+ patients since opening in February 2025, ending grueling trips to Srinagar.
Employment thrives under JKREGP. In 2023-24, 115 youth secured loans for ventures like dairy and tailoring, building on 2022-23’s Rs. 20.96 crore subsidy that spawned 1,065 units. Agriculture blooms too, with the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) rolling out 29 projects. Controlled-atmosphere mushroom units have lured 50+ young farmers since 2024, while a Mobile Soil Testing Lab has analyzed 1,200 samples, boosting yields by 15%, per district records.
Baramulla’s journey isn’t just numbers—it’s people. From Nusrat’s digital leap to Tariq’s business, it’s a district rising through vision and grit. X buzzes with sentiment: locals call it “a new dawn,” though some urge faster road fixes. With Mission Yuva, model villages, and HADP, Baramulla isn’t just chasing growth—it’s setting a national benchmark. As Sherpa puts it, “This is development with a soul.” For a district once defined by struggle, that’s a legacy worth celebrating.
(Ahmed Fayyaz is reachable at afazil146@gmail.com)
Blurb
Baramulla district shines as a model of inclusive growth, earning NITI Aayog’s Rs. 3 crore award for its transformative strides under the Aspirational District Program. From empowering youth through Mission Yuva to boosting education with innovative schools and uplifting rural life via NHPC partnerships, DDC Minga Sherpa’s leadership is redefining development. With advances in healthcare, housing, and agriculture, Baramulla’s journey of resilience and vision offers a powerful lesson in governance that puts people first.
