Sariya, a village situated right on the edge of the India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, witnessed a transformative moment on Tuesday. Under the ambitious ‘Vibrant Village’ initiative, a mega awareness camp was organized to bring essential government welfare schemes to the residents of this remote frontier. Braving heavy rains, the villagers flocked to the local school to understand and enroll in various social security programs.

Labour Officer Neeraj Kumar highlighted the ‘Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana’ as a cornerstone of this drive. The scheme allows unorganized sector workers, including tailors, masons, and small shopkeepers aged 18 to 40, to secure a monthly pension of ₹3,000 after the age of 60 by contributing a small monthly premium starting from just ₹55. To ensure immediate benefits, on-the-spot registration counters were set up, facilitating a seamless application process for the attendees.

Local social activists and residents expressed their gratitude, noting that such direct intervention bridges the long-standing information gap in border areas. “Earlier, we were unaware of these benefits, but now the administration is reaching our doorstep,” said Anil Choudhary, a local activist. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to uplifting remote border communities and ensuring that progress knows no boundaries.