By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 23 May: The Vibrant Villages Programme, originally designed for villages along the Indo-Tibet border, is now being expanded to include settlements along the Nepal border in Uttarakhand, marking a strategic effort to strengthen border regions and curb migration.
A detailed development plan has been formulated for villages near the Nepal border, with five villages in Khatima Block of Udham Singh Nagar district, namely. Banmaholia, Narayan Nagar, Kumraha, Sisia Bandha, and Nagla Tarai, being selected under this initiative. These villages will receive complete development funding through central and state government schemes, ensuring full saturation in infrastructure and welfare programmes.
The Centre has asserted that its key objective is to address the ongoing migration from international border villages, where residents often relocate to cities for better living conditions, education, and job opportunities. Launched in 2022-23, the Vibrant Village Programme focuses on generating livelihood options and boosting tourism to strengthen local economies, making it essential for national security as empty border villages pose strategic concerns.
Under this scheme, the development efforts will be guided by Village Action Plans prepared in collaboration with local communities. Infrastructure improvements will encompass housing, all-weather road connectivity under PMGSY-IV, renewable energy solutions, and enhanced healthcare facilities. Digital connectivity will be expanded with better telecommunication infrastructure and 4G access. In addition, sustainable livelihood opportunities will be created through tourism promotion, skill development, entrepreneurship, and cooperative societies in agriculture and horticulture. The ‘One Village-One Product’ initiative will encourage eco-agribusinesses via community-based organisations. The government has also decided to promote local fairs, festivals, and awareness programmes alongside regular visits by ministers and government officials to boost tourism and cultural preservation. It has also been claimed that the supply chain integration will ensure employment for villagers, linking them to essential goods supply for security forces stationed at the border.
Chief Development Officer (CDO) of Udham Singh Nagar, Manish Kumar has confirmed the selection of these five villages and shared that Block Development Officers are being instructed to prioritise development work in adherence to central guidelines. The programme focuses on the ‘hub and spoke model’ to create growth centres while achieving full saturation of government schemes without duplicating the Border Area Development Programme. The Prime Minister’s Office is directly monitoring the implementation of the Vibrant Villages Programme, underscoring its strategic importance for national development and border security.
