Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently lauded the youth of Jammu and Kashmir during the launch of the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojna in New Delhi. These remarks were not just praise for the resilient people of J&K but a reflection of transformation that has swept across the Union territory since 2019. PM Modi’s reference to improved connectivity and the growing dynamism of Kashmiri farmers like Fayaz Ahmad Ganaie from Ganderbal speaks of how a new, self-reliant Jammu and Kashmir is finally reaping the fruits of reform, integration, and transparency. How many time have you heard the PM speaking directly of farmers in Kashmir under previous dispensations? Our people remained trapped in a cycle of limited opportunities, administrative inertia and systemic corruption for more than 35 years since the terrorism started taking roots in J&K. Development projects, whatever few were announced, moved at a snail’s pace. This attitude made the investors hesitant and the youth depressed and trapped in pessimism. The historic constitutional changes of August 2019 ended this stagnation by fully integrating Jammu and Kashmir into the country’s constitutional and administrative framework which opened the doors to central schemes, transparent and long-denied rights and benefits for common citizens. Since then, we have witnessed a remarkable transformation in governance and economy. While the introduction of direct benefit transfers (DBT) plugged leakages in welfare delivery, roads, railways, and rural infrastructure projects delayed for years are now being completed with great efficiency. The extension of central schemes like PM-KISAN, PM Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, and Jal Jeevan Mission has benefitted lakhs of households, improving living standards and restoring faith in the system. The revival of the railway network, which was highlighted by the Prime Minister in his speech, symbolizes this change. The operationalization of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link has not only brought the Valley closer to the rest of the country but it has also revolutionized trade and logistics. Agricultural produce, handicrafts, and horticultural goods now reach markets across the country faster and fresher, giving local entrepreneurs a competitive edge and more benefits to the farmers. This connectivity, coupled with the peace dividend of improving security, enabled youth like Ganaie to dream bigger and invest confidently in their ventures. Besides, the atmosphere of transparency and accountability that now prevails has restored faith in the system. The digitization of land records, single-window investment clearances, and proactive anti-corruption measures have built trust and streamlined governance. Foreign delegations, investors and domestic tourists, despite the Pahalgam setback, now view Jammu and Kashmir not through the lens of turmoil but as a land of opportunity. PM Modi’s praise hence is a recognition of a new reality in the post-2019 era which has unlocked our potential.