Information and Broadcasting & Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Shri Anurag Thakur, hosted more than two hundred Sarpanches from Border Villages, under the Vibrant Villages Programme with their spouses at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi today. Addressing the gathering Shri Thakur said that the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to holistic development of Border Villages under Vibrant Village Programme. Public welfare schemes will reach the remotest corner of the border village from North-East to Leh Ladakh and other parts of bordering states. Shri Thakur reiterated that roads, telecommunication and tourism are the lifeline of border villages and the government is determined to enhance these services under the Vibrant Village Programme.
Some of the venerable officials present were Shri Atal Dullo, Secretary, Border Management, MHA; Smt. Meeta Rajivlochan, Secretary Youth Affairs and Sports and Shri Ashish Dayal Singh, Director General, Indo- Tibetan Border Police along with officers of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Government of India is prioritizing the development of the country’s strategically important border areas.
The Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, envisages comprehensive development of identified villages in 46 blocks abutting northern border in 19 districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, UT of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.
Shri Thakur remarked, that these border villages, once termed the ‘Last Villages of India’ have been termed the ‘First Villages’ by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi. Over 17 Ministers have visited and stayed overnight in these villages. Under the visionary guidance of the Hon’ble PM, the Government is trying to ensure the delivery of Government Programmes focusing on the Empowerment of women and youth, Connectivity with all-weather roads, provision of clean drinking water, 24×7 power to be focused on solar and wind energy, Mobile and Internet connectivity, Tourist centers, Multipurpose Center and Health and Wellness Center.
Shri Atal Dullo, Secretary, Border Management said that the government extended its full support to the development of the border villages holistically. On the occasion, Smt. Meeta Rajiv Lochan, Secretary Youth Affairs and Sports, gave the keynote address. Mentioning role of Nehru Yuva Kendras (NYK) and National Service Scheme (NSS) she appealed the Village Sarpanchs to work in close coordination with the volunteers.
Further, Shri Ashish Dayal Singh, DG, ITBP, said that ITBP wholeheartedly supports the aspirations of the vibrant village people.
Over 200 Sarpanches/ Gram Pradhans from Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, UT Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh attended the program. One Sarpanch from each state shared their views on the Vibrant Village Programme. Sarpanch of Gnathang, (Gangtok) Sikkim- Smt. Pema Sherpa, Sarpanch of Shyo Toth (Tawang), Arunachal Pradesh- Smt. Phurpa Zomba, Sarpanch of Durbuk Block (Changthang), UT Ladakh- Shri Konchokley Namgyal, Sarpanch of Mana village, Uttarakhand- Shri Pitambar Molfa, Sarpanch of Batsari, Tehsil Sangla, Himachal Pradesh- Shri Pradeep Kumar appreciated the Government’s initiative of Vibrant Villages Programme and expressed hope it will bring a new dawn for these villages. They also hoped that once the programme is fully implemented, these villages will see reverse migration. The Vibrant Villages Programme was approved on 15th February 2023, with Central contribution of Rs.4800 crore for the period FY 2022-23 to 2025-26 including Rs.2500 crore specifically for road connectivity.
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