Srinagar, Nov. 25 -- The recent review of the Vibrant Villages Programme-Phase II (VVP-II) in Jammu and Kashmir is a test of whether the state can finally deliver justice to its most neglected citizens. For decades, border villages have been treated as buffers rather than communities, their lives defined by barbed wire, bunkers, and the constant fear of shelling. Now, with VVP-II promising holistic development, the question is whether the initiative will break the cycle of neglect or become another entry in the long ledger of unfulfilled promises.

On paper, the government's efforts look ambitious. Surveys to identify gaps in road connectivity, telecom, electricity, and healthcare signal a seriousness of intent. Village Action Plans, if e...