The approval of a ₹10.22 crore Tribal Tourism Village at Behri Qasab in Mendhar is a welcome step, but it must be understood as more than a tourism project. For a border and tribal region like Poonch, it carries a larger message of recognition, dignity and economic possibility. Jammu and Kashmir cannot build a balanced future if its remote areas are remembered only during crises or official visits. Development must reach the people whose culture, land and resilience have long remained part of the region’s strength.
Behri Qasab has the potential to become an important cultural and tourism destination, not because of concrete structures alone, but because of the living heritage of its people. The tribal communities of this area have their own traditions, food, crafts, lifestyle, values and identity. These are not museum pieces to be displayed casually. They are part of a living social history that deserves respect, preservation and rightful representation. A Tribal Tourism Village can become meaningful only if it places the community at the centre of the project. The project, sanctioned under the Capex Budget 2026-27, aims to showcase tribal culture, improve local infrastructure and create new opportunities for local youth. This is a positive objective. Tourism, if planned honestly, can generate employment for guides, artisans, women, homestay owners, transporters, food vendors and small entrepreneurs. It can also give young people a reason to stay connected with their roots while finding livelihood opportunities at home. For a region like Mendhar, where economic options are limited, such projects can bring fresh confidence. However, the government must be careful that tribal tourism does not become a decorative slogan. Cultural tourism often fails when local people are reduced to performers for visitors, while the real benefits go elsewhere. Behri Qasab must not become such a model. The people of the area should not merely be shown in brochures; they should be partners in planning, decision-making and income generation. Their consent, participation and ownership must guide the project from the beginning. Poonch has natural beauty, cultural diversity and historical depth, but its tourism potential has not been fully developed. The region needs better connectivity, sanitation, accommodation, safety arrangements, signage, digital promotion and trained local manpower. A tourism village cannot succeed in isolation. It must be connected with roads, markets, emergency facilities and a wider tourism circuit. Visitors will come only if the experience is safe, organised, authentic and accessible. The proposed project also gains importance because it comes at a time when there is growing discussion about strengthening infrastructure in Qasab and adjoining areas. The helipad and waiting lounge project already announced for the region can support emergency response and improve access. If both initiatives are planned together, the area can benefit from a more complete development approach. Connectivity can support tourism, and tourism can support livelihoods. But this will happen only if departments coordinate properly and avoid working in separate compartments. The independent concern is execution. Jammu and Kashmir has seen many promising projects lose their impact because of delays, weak monitoring or poor community involvement. The Behri Qasab project must not suffer the same fate. There should be a clear timeline, transparent spending, quality control and regular public review. Local youth should be trained before the project becomes operational. Women’s groups, artisans and tribal representatives should be included in every stage. Traditional products should be branded and marketed properly so that income reaches local households. Environmental care must also remain central. Tourism should not damage the very beauty and cultural balance it seeks to promote. Waste management, water supply, local architecture, eco-friendly construction and responsible visitor management must be part of the plan. Development that harms nature or disturbs community life cannot be called progress.
Finally, Behri Qasab does not need symbolic attention; it needs serious, honest and people-centred development. A Tribal Tourism Village should not be built only for visitors to see tribal culture, but for local communities to gain dignity, income and opportunity from their own heritage. The government must ensure that this ₹10.22 crore project becomes a living model of inclusive growth in border Jammu and Kashmir. Build it with the people, protect their identity, create real livelihoods and make Mendhar a place where culture is not only celebrated, but also respected, preserved and empowered.