VIBRANT VILLAGE PROGRAMME

Key Highlights:

• The Vibrant Villages Programme-I (VVP-I) was approved on February 15, 2023, as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• It aims for comprehensive development of select villages along India's northern border in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sanctioned 1248 projects with an outlay of ₹3065.32 Crore under the program.
• 662 villages have been identified for priority development, with ₹953.47 crore released to States/UTs.
• Key achievements include 528 villages with 4G mobile connectivity, 625 with piped drinking water, and 621 with electricity access.

Detailed Insights:

• The program targets villages in 46 blocks across 19 districts of the specified border states and Union Territory.
• As of date, 316 projects have been completed, and an additional 1658 projects were sanctioned through convergence with other ministries.
• 111 road projects, with an outlay of ₹2,481.93 crore, have been sanctioned to provide all-weather connectivity to 134 unconnected villages.
• MHA has also sanctioned 140 off-grid solar projects and 7 micro-hydel projects to enhance energy access.
• The Ministry of Power sanctioned 43 projects with ₹238.30 crore for augmenting power distribution infrastructure under convergence.
• Health services are being strengthened with 40 Mobile Medical Units sanctioned for Arunachal Pradesh.
• 146 projects for the construction or upgradation of school infrastructure have been sanctioned under the program.
• The implementation of projects under VVP-I is periodically reviewed, but no third-party evaluation has been conducted.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Vibrant Villages Programme-I (VVP-I): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the holistic development of villages situated along India's northern border.
• Centrally Sponsored Scheme: Government schemes where a portion of the funding is provided by the Central Government, with the remaining share contributed by the State Governments.
• Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA): The nodal ministry responsible for the implementation and sanctioning of projects under the Vibrant Villages Programme-I.