In February this year, Union Cabinet approved Centrally Sponsored Scheme- “Vibrant Villages Programme” (VVP) for the Financial Years 2022-23 to 2025-26 with financial allocation of Rs. 4800 Crore as per details made available by the Government of India.
This intends comprehensive development of villages of blocks on northern border thus improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages. This 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 in 19 Districts and 46 Border blocks 4 states and 1 UT along the northern land border of the country which will help in achieving inclusive growth and retaining the populatiion in the border areas.
In the first phase 663 Villages will be taken up in the programme.
The scheme aids to identify and develop the economic drivers based on local natural human and other resources of the border villages on northern border and development of growth centres on “Hub and Spoke Model”. The scheme is seen by some as a response by China’s Border laws and with a view to improve the overall potential of the border villages.
A fund of ₹4800 crores has been allocated for the programme for the Financial Year 2022-23 to 2025-26. Initially, 662 border villages have been identified for comprehensive development on priority under the programme. State wise number of villages are as follows: Arunachal Pradesh- 455, Himachal Pradesh- 75, Ladakh(UT)- 35, Sikkim- 46 and Uttarakhand-51.
Under this programme following focus areas have been identified for intervention: (i) Economic growth- livelihood generation (ii) Road Connectivity (iii) Housing & village infrastructure (iv) Energy including renewable energy through Solar and Wind power (v) Television & Telecom Connectivity including setting up of IT enabled Common Service Centre in the Village (vi) Regeneration of eco-system (vii) Promotion of tourism & culture (viii) Financial Inclusion (ix) Skill development & entrepreneurship (x) Development of cooperative societies for managing livelihood opportunities including agriculture/horticulture, cultivation of medicinal plants/herbs etc.
Vibrant Villages Programme aims for convergence of existing schemes of Central and State Government through formulation of District Convergence Plan. It focuses on projects in the identified areas of intervention for inclusion in the vibrant villages action plan for select villages. This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nisith Pramanik in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha as per a Press Information Bureau Release