The Centre’s Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) which aims to develop infrastructure and open up villages to tourists along the China border will be integrated with the Gati Shakti Mega Project.

What is Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP)?

• Under the VVP, the selected villages will be provided with basic facilities like all-weather roads, potable piped water, 24×7 electricity, good mobile and internet connectivity, healthcare, and enhanced livelihood options.
• The VVP aims to prevent migration of border population, catalyze reverse migration, and keep all villages along the LAC well-populated from the strategic and security point of view.

Villages selected

• Kibithoo, one of the remotest circle headquarters of Arunachal Pradesh, is the first village to be developed under the VVP.
• The villages will also serve as the Indian Army’s eyes and ears in these remote areas.
• 2,967 villages in 19 border districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh will be developed under the VVP, with 662 villages being developed in the first phase of the project.

Components

• The VVP programme involves a number of livelihood programmes, including bee-keeping, improving agricultural yields, encouraging handicrafts and local products, and providing market linkages to them.
• The programme also focuses on promoting high-end tourism and training local people to cater to tourists.
• Provision of 24×7 power through micro-hydel power plants, solar power panels, and windmills is also a vital component of the programme.

Impact

• The development of border villages under the VVP will help provide a better livelihood for the locals, improve the quality of life and prevent migration from these remote areas.
• It will also help in gathering intelligence from the people of border villages and provide the Indian Army with better access to these areas.

Comparison with China’s Model

• India’s Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) is people-centric and aims to enhance the quality of life of the locals.
• China’s Xiaokang villages lack proper planning for providing livelihood opportunities, healthcare and education facilities, and proper transportation.
• Beijing’s aim of keeping civilian residents of these villages as watchful eyes over activities across the LAC and on Indian Army patrols has been negated.
• Most of the villages now serve as residential quarters and logistical facilities for the PLA.
• India’s VVP scores over China’s building of new Xiaokang villages as it has a holistic approach to development.

Why merged with Gati Shakti?

• Gati Shakti brings 16 ministries, including Railways and Roadways, together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.
• It allows government departments to break operational silos.
• By integrating VVP with Gati Shakti, there can be better coordination between various ministries and departments to ensure the smooth implementation of the programme and to avoid any duplication of efforts.

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