New Delhi [India]: On March 14, Nisith Pramanik, Minister of State for Home Affairs, responded in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha that the central Government has approved a centrally-sponsored scheme ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ for the comprehensive development of the border villages.
The programme intends to develop the villages in 46 border blocks of 19 districts in four States and one Union Territory viz Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Ladakh (UT) abutting the northern border. A fund of Rs 4,800 crore has been allocated for the programme for the Financial Year 2022-23 to 2025-26.
The Ministry of Home Affairs reports that 662 border villages have initially been identified for comprehensive development on priority under the programme. State wise number of villages is as follows: Arunachal Pradesh- 455, Himachal Pradesh- 75, Ladakh(UT)- 35, Sikkim- 46 and Uttarakhand-51.
Under this programme, the focus areas that have been identified for intervention include Economic growth- livelihood generation, road connectivity, housing and village infrastructure, energy including renewable energy through solar and wind power, television and telecom connectivity including setting up of IT-enabled Common Service Centre in the village, regeneration of eco-system, promotion of tourism and culture, financial inclusion, skill development and entrepreneurship, development of cooperative societies for managing livelihood opportunities including agriculture/horticulture, cultivation of medicinal plants/herbs etc.
With the formulation of a District Convergence Plan, the Vibrant Villages Program seeks to bring together existing Central and State Government programmes. It focuses on projects in the identified areas of intervention for inclusion in the vibrant villages action plan for select villages.
