On May 23, 2023, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that special efforts should be made to establish connectivity with 168 “unconnected” border villages which are located along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Ladakh.
Speaking at the inauguration of a workshop on the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) that the Union Cabinet approved on February 15, 2023, the VVP will cover 2967 villages in 46 border blocks of the 19 districts in four states and one Union territory along the border with China.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) organised the workshop, which the state and government officials attended.
Amit Shah said that the government has taken several steps and initiatives to improve the border infrastructure, and the VVP has been launched to stop migration from the border villages.
He said that the VVP focuses on two aspects: stopping the migration from far-flung areas that expect tough climatic conditions and developing these villages, thus adding an extra layer of security.
According to Amit Shah, 30% of the daily expenditure of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) should be linked with rural employment opportunities.
The District Collectors in the border districts should take at least five initiatives to give an impetus to the VVP, such as promoting tourism, agriculture, handicrafts, cooperatives and encouraging home-stays.
The meeting was attended by the Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Central Police Force that is deployed along the China Border.
