Rayees Masroor
In the shadow of the Pir Panjal mountains, where the winds carry echoes of both struggle and resilience, Kupwara has etched an extraordinary tale of reinvention. Once defined by its remoteness and the scars of conflict, this frontier district of Jammu and Kashmir has now claimed its place in the national spotlight, honored with the **Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024**—a recognition of its unparalleled strides in holistic development under the Aspirational District Programme.
The story of Kupwara’s metamorphosis is one of visionary leadership, grassroots grit, and systemic transformation. At its helm stands **Deputy Commissioner Ayushi Sudan (IAS)**, whose tenure has been a masterclass in bridging policy and praxis. Under her stewardship, Kupwara has not only closed the gap between its rugged hinterlands and urban centers but has set a new benchmark for governance in India’s farthest-flung regions. From orchestrating seamless elections to pioneering digital classrooms, Sudan’s mantra of “last-mile delivery” has reshaped the district’s trajectory. “Empowerment isn’t a privilege; it’s a right,” she asserts, a philosophy that has galvanized her team and the community alike.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Kupwara’s public health revolution. The district has turned the tide on malnutrition, slashing rates of **Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM)** among children, while its gold-standard TB control program has become a blueprint for the nation. In villages like **Keran**, health workers traverse treacherous terrain to deliver care, embodying a commitment that has made Kupwara a case study in rural healthcare delivery.
The agrarian heartland, too, has witnessed a quiet renaissance. Farmers in **Trehgam** and beyond have embraced drip irrigation and organic techniques, doubling yields and incomes—proof that sustainability and prosperity can go hand in hand. Water scarcity, once a perennial crisis, has been mitigated through innovative watershed projects like the revival of the **Kahmil stream**, ensuring that even border hamlets have year-round access to this lifeline.
Financial inclusion and skill development have unlocked dormant potential. Banking access has reached the unbanked, while self-employment initiatives have spawned a wave of micro-entrepreneurs, from tailors in **Handwara** to tech-trained youth in **Sogam**. These programs haven’t just lifted households; they’ve rewritten futures.
Yet, Kupwara’s crowning achievement lies in its classrooms. A **Rs 4.5 crore investment** has transformed 259 government schools into digital hubs, complete with smart boards and robotics labs. For students like **Areeba Jan**, who once dreamed of textbooks, now code robots and conduct virtual experiments, the district’s leap into 21st-century education has been nothing short of revolutionary. “We’re no longer left behind,” she says, a sentiment echoing across Kupwara’s valleys.
The Prime Minister’s Award is more than an accolade—it’s a validation of Kupwara’s collective will. From frontline workers to farmers, bureaucrats to students, the district has proven that progress is possible against all odds. As plans for eco-tourism and expanded infrastructure take shape, Kupwara stands not just as a model for Jammu and Kashmir, but for every aspirational corner of India.
“This is our moment,” reflects **Mohammad Yousuf**, a shopkeeper in Kupwara town. “But the journey isn’t over.” Indeed, for a district that has turned adversity into advantage, the horizon stretches wider than ever.
Note: Rayees Masroor, Independent Columnist and Academician, Kupwara, Kashmir
