Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP)
Government has approved Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on 15th February 2023, for comprehensive development of the 2,967 villages in 46 blocks in 19 districts of abutting northern border in the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and UT of Ladakh.
The programme envisages focused areas of interventions in the select villages for creation of opportunities for livelihood generation through promotion of tourism & cultural heritage, skill development & entrepreneurship and development of cooperative societies including agriculture/horticulture, cultivation of medicinal plants/herbs etc. the interventions also include providing road connectivity to unconnected villages, housing & village infrastructures, energy including renewable energy, television & telecom connectivity.
The objective of the programme is to create sufficient incentives for people to stay on in the selected villages.
Vibrant Village Program in Uttarakhand
Selected villages in blocks abutting northern border in Chamoli, Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag districts have also been covered under VVP. All 51 Uttarakhand villages selected for development under the Central Government's Vibrant Village Scheme (VVS) are positioned along India's borders with China and Nepal.
Uttarakhand shares a 350 km border with China and a 275 km stretch with Nepal, motivating the government to focus on these frontier areas. The VVS aims to accelerate development in these border villages to improve connectivity, infrastructure, and overall growth, enhancing security and stability in these sensitive regions.
List of villages in Uttarakhand under the first phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP):
| S.No | Villages |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bamni |
| 2 | Bampa |
| 3 | Farkiya (Farkiagaon) |
| 4 | Gajkoti |
| 5 | Gamsali |
| 6 | Gurguti |
| 7 | Joshimath |
| 8 | Kailashpur |
| 9 | Kosha (Kosa) |
| 10 | Mahargaon |
| 11 | Malari |
| 12 | Mana |
| 13 | Neeti (Niti) |
| 14 | Rewal Chak Kurkuti |
| 15 | Baling |
| 16 | Dar |
| 17 | Dugtu |
| 18 | Garbyang |
| 19 | Gunji |
| 20 | Heera Gumari R.F. |
| 21 | Heera Gumari R.F. (P-2) |
| 22 | Khimling |
| 23 | Kuti |
| 24 | Marcha (Marchha) |
| 25 | Napalchu (Napalachchu) |
| 26 | Navi |
| 27 | Rongkong (Raung Kong) |
| 28 | Seepu (Sipu) |
| 29 | Sela |
| 30 | Sobla (Sobala) |
| 31 | Tidang |
| 32 | Amali |
| 33 | Beda (Bedara) |
| 34 | Bilju |
| 35 | Burphu |
| 36 | Martoli |
| 37 | Milam (Meelam) |
| 38 | Pachhu Gunth |
| 39 | Panchhu |
| 40 | Rilkot |
| 41 | Tola |
| 42 | Bagori |
| 43 | Dharali |
| 44 | Harshil |
| 45 | Jadung |
| 46 | Jaspur |
| 47 | Jhala |
| 48 | Mukhawa |
| 49 | Nelang |
| 50 | Purali |
| 51 | Sukki |
What is Vibrant Village Program for?
The Vibrant Village Programme is a centrally sponsored programme launched by the Government of India in 2023 to develop selected villages along India’s northern borders comprehensively. Similar programmes such as the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) have suffered due to meagre financial resources, ineffective monitoring of projects and uncooperative state governments.
Key Reasons for Launching the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP)
- Response to Border Security Needs: Initiated after India-China border tensions in 2020, focusing on the India–China border.
- Addressing Infrastructure Gaps: Poor road connectivity limits government access and basic services in remote areas.
- Curbing Migration: Lack of opportunities forces residents to migrate for better livelihood options.
- Improving Strategic Defense: Developed border areas and communities aid in surveillance, intelligence, and logistical support for security forces.
- Territorial Assertion: Permanent settlements in border areas reinforce India's claim on disputed lands.
- China’s Development Model Influence: China’s extensive border infrastructure projects motivated India’s response through VVP.
