Vibrant Village Programme
Context:
Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to a holistic development of Border Villages under Vibrant Village Programme.
Relevance:
GS-02, GS-03 (Growth and Development)
The Vibrant Villages Programme:
- The Vibrant Villages Programme emerges as a Centrally sponsored initiative introduced within the framework of the Union Budget 2022-23 (spanning from 2022-26).
- The primary objective centers on uplifting the standard of living of residents in designated border villages situated along the northern frontier.
- Geographical Scope: This program is set to encompass regions adjoining the northern borders of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Ladakh.
- Implementation Strategy: District administrations, in collaboration with Gram Panchayats, are tasked with crafting these comprehensive plans, which will serve as guiding frameworks for developmental endeavors.
- Distinguishing Feature: Notably, the Vibrant Villages Programme is designed to operate independently of the Border Area Development Programme, ensuring distinct and non-overlapping spheres of impact.
Objectives of the Programme:
- Identification of Economic Catalysts: The foremost aim of the scheme is to identify and cultivate economic drivers that are rooted in the local, natural, human, and other indigenous resources within the northern border villages.
- Hub and Spoke Model for Growth Centers: This strategy focuses on fostering social entrepreneurship, offering empowerment avenues for the youth and women through skill enhancement and entrepreneurship initiatives.
- Tapping into Tourism Potential: The programme seeks to harness the latent tourism potential prevalent in these regions. This entails the promotion of local cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and heritage as essential components for driving tourism growth.
- Sustainable Eco-Agri Businesses: The Programme also advocates for the creation and sustenance of eco-agri businesses. Under the guiding principle of ‘one village-one product’, it encourages the establishment of community-based organizations, cooperatives, and NGOs to facilitate the development of sustainable agricultural enterprises.
- The Vibrant Villages Programme aspires to bring about a holistic transformation in the identified border villages. Through a combination of strategic planning, resource mobilization, and empowerment initiatives, the scheme aims to uplift the socio-economic landscape of these regions, fostering a vibrant and resilient local community.
