Why in News?
- Recently, the Union Cabinet has sanctioned raising of seven new ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) battalions and allocated Rs 4,800 crore under the Vibrant Villages Programme to strengthen the social and security framework along the China border.
- The Cabinet has also cleared a 4.1-km Shinku-La tunnel on the Manali-Darcha-Padum-Nimmu axis to permit all-weather connectivity to Ladakh.
About Vibrant Villages Programme-
- It is a centrally sponsored scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 (to 2025-26) for development of villages on the northern border, thus enhancing the quality of life of people living in identified border villages.
- It will cover the border areas of Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.
- The scheme will cover about 2,963 villages with 663 of them to be covered in the 1st phase.
- Vibrant Village Action Plans will be formed by the district administration with the support of Gram Panchayats.
- There will not be overlap with Border Area Development Programme.
- Objective-
- The scheme helps to identify and develop the economic drivers based on local, natural, human and other resources of the border villages on the northern border.
- To develop the growth centres on ‘hub and spoke model’ through promotion of social entrepreneurship, empowerment of youth and women through skill development and entrepreneurship.
- Leveraging the tourism potential through promotion of local cultural, traditional knowledge and heritage.
- Develop sustainable eco-agri businesses on the concept of ‘one village-one product’ through community-based organisations, cooperatives, NGOs.
Significance-
- It is aimed at reinforcing the security grid on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). It will also give a window for the ITBP to rest, recuperate and train its personnel.
- The decision to raise additional battalions was taken keeping an eye on the need for effective surveillance in the border areas and the battalion.
- The government’s decision to sanction a financial package for border villages and upgrade security comes at a time when issues with China are still to be resolved along the LAC in Ladakh. PLA troops are still squatting in the Depsang Plains and Demchok. China is also improving its infrastructure along the LAC.
- The program envisions coverage of border villages on the Northern border having sparse populations, limited connectivity, and infrastructure, which often get left out of the development plans.
- The scheme will support encourage people to stay in their native locations in border areas and reverse the out-migration from these villages, adding to better security of the border.
- The scheme will give funds for the development of essential infrastructure and the creation of livelihood opportunities.
- The scheme will help to reinforce India’s cooperative sector and to deepen its access to the grassroots as it will enable cooperative societies to establish and modernize the necessary infrastructure.
- It also aims to develop sustainable agricultural, dairy, and fishery cooperatives in each village.
- It will be assisted by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), and the National Fisheries Development Board.
- The plan aims to set up viable Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in each uncovered Panchayat.
Key Points of the Shinku-La tunnel-
- It is a 4.1-km long tunnel on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha Road link to provide all-weather connectivity to the border areas of Ladakh.
- The tunnel work will be completed by December 2025.
- It is crucial as far as the security and safety of the country is concerned.
- It will also support in the movement of security forces in that region.
Outmigration from border villages-
- People of mountain regions depend on subsistence farming, livestock, and income generation from small-scale trade and wage activities for their livelihood.
- The border villages of India are often neglected by the government, thus leading to poor connectivity, underdevelopment, and difficult living conditions, causing massive out-migration.
- Uttarakhand is a case in point- the state’s border areas are seeing considerable out-migration due to hostile living conditions, appalling infrastructure, lack of connection, and subpar health and educational services.
- The army highlighted that migration along the border can have substantial national security implications.
- India’s northeast region shares a long boundary with China, and the PLA is creating border villages at a fast rate for surveillance.
- The presence of settlements near the border helps the security forces and gives the country a psychological edge. Also, it reduces the cost of surveillance because humans are the most accurate surveillance technology, guarding the whole border.