G20 podium
In order to include border villages in the growth that the country is witnessing, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government has initiated a new scheme. Called the Vibrant Villages Programme, it is a Centrally-sponsored scheme for comprehensive development of border villages.
Currently, the programme aims to develop 662 villages in 46 border blocks of 19 districts in four states and one Union Territory.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, last month approved the scheme for financial years 2022-23 to 2025-26 with an allocation of Rs. 4,800 crore.
Vibrant Villages Programme is aimed at the development of villages along the borders with China. These areas in the Line of Actual Control (LAC) lay neglected and lacked development work. The scheme will thus improve the quality of life of people living in these villages. It will help in encouraging people to stay in their native locations in border areas and reversing the outmigration from these villages adding to improved security of the border.
The scheme will provide funds for development of essential infrastructure and creation of livelihood opportunities. It will help in achieving inclusive growth along the northern land border of the country.
The scheme aids to identify and develop the economic drivers based on local natural human and other resources of the border villages on the northern border. It also aims for development of growth centres on ‘Hub and Spoke Model’ through promotion of social entrepreneurship, empowerment of youth and women through skill development and entrepreneurship.
Vibrant Village Action Plans will be created by the district administration with the help of Gram Panchayats.
Underlying apprehension
Till now, the border villages were neglected and remained underdeveloped given the indifferent attitude of earlier governments. There was an underlying apprehension that development at the borders will help aggressive neighbours gain easy access into the mainland. This unfounded fear rather helped adversaries venture into Indian territories as the country has witnessed from time to time.
The approval also included development of various villages along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and deployment of seven additional Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) battalions along the Arunachal border.
“For decades our border villages remained untouched by development. Our enemies took advantage of these lapses and strengthened their position along our borders. Sensing an opportunity, China increased its influence along our borders by rapidly developing its infrastructure and increasing the presence of its army.
India also suffered similar setbacks along the Pakistan border due to serious lapses of the Congress governments. Terror activities also increased along the Myanmar border,” wrote Rajya Sabha MP and BJP National Media in-charge Anil Baluni in an opinion piece in The Indian Express.
PM Modi’s response
The author is from Tehri Garhwal district in Uttarakhand and represents the state in the Upper House.
Referring to the issue, which is related to our national security, he mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to it in right earnest. “He not only focused his Government’s attention towards developing infrastructure in the border areas, he also conceived the Vibrant Village Programme, which focuses on the development of our border villages,” the article mentioned.
Incidentally, Mana – about 5 km ahead of Badrinath – got 4G mobile connectivity in December last year. It is the last Indian village on the China border. During his visit, the Prime Minister had termed it as “the first Indian village, not the last.”
Baluni’s article also pointed out, “This initiative will soon transform our border villages neighbouring China, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar, and address the problem of migration. A total of 2,962 border villages in five states will be developed under this scheme.” Indeed, the Vibrant Villages Programme will be a milestone in the development of border villages.
Focus areas identified
Among villages included are 455 from Arunachal Pradesh, 75 in Himachal Pradesh, 46 in Sikkim, 51 in Uttarakhand, and 35 in Ladakh.
Under this programme, 10 focus areas have been identified for intervention. These are economic growth- livelihood generation, road Connectivity, housing and village infrastructure, energy – including renewable energy through solar and wind power, TV and telecom connectivity – including setting up of IT enabled common service centre, regeneration of ecosystem, promotion of tourism and culture, financial inclusion, skill development and entrepreneurship, and the development of cooperative societies for managing livelihood opportunities.
