‘Developed border areas act as deterrence to adversary’s claims’
- Objective is to transform the villages along the Northern borders, especially in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh, which are suffering from limited connectivity and infrastructure, into a ‘Model Village’,.
Highlights:
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on September 11, 2024, emphasized the transformation of remote villages along the Northern borders, especially in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh, into ‘Model Villages’.
- The aim is to enhance infrastructure, connectivity, and economic development in these border areas, which are crucial for both national security and local livelihoods.
Vibrant Village Programme (VVP):
- The Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) was introduced by the Union Government in February 2023 with an outlay of ₹4,800 crore for FY 2022-23 to 2025-26.
- Covering 2,967 villages in 46 blocks across 19 districts in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and the Union Territory of Ladakh, the VVP focuses on:
Improving infrastructure and quality of life in border villages:
- Countering outmigration by providing opportunities for economic growth.
- Strengthening national security by establishing a local population presence near disputed borders, such as the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
- The initiative aims to counter China’s construction of Xiaokang (moderately prosperous) villages near the Indian border by raising the economic and infrastructural standards of Indian border villages.
Strategic and Security Implications:
- Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi highlighted that well-developed border villages act as a deterrence to adversaries, undermining claims over Indian territory by establishing a local presence. Development in border areas enhances national security and enables prompt military deployments.
Key infrastructure milestones over the last decade include:
- The construction of over 8,500 kms of roads and 400 bridges by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
- Key projects like the Atal Tunnel, Sela Tunnel, and the world’s highest Shikun-La Tunnel.
- 220 KV Srinagar-Leh electricity line, connecting Ladakh to the national electricity grid.
- Broadband connectivity to 1,500 villages through the Bharat-Net project, benefiting over 7,000 border villages in the last four years, with a focus on Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
Economic and Social Upliftment
- The government is focused on improving the lives of the people residing in border areas through various schemes:
- Skill development, education opportunities, and employment generation are key priorities to empower the local population, especially the youth.
- Promoting border tourism, creating economic activities to sustain livelihoods, and encouraging participation in National Cadet Corps (NCC) for youth engagement.
- Phase-I of setting up mobile towers for 4G communications in strategic areas like Kibithu, Walong, and Hayuliang under the Unified Service Obligation Fund (USOF) will be completed by December 2024, further boosting connectivity and communication in sensitive regions.
Prelims Takeaways:
- Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
- Unified Service Obligation Fund (USOF)