Vibrant Village Programme

Context- The following decisions were recently approved by the Union Cabinet:

• forming seven brand-new ITBP battalions and recruiting 9,000 additional troops.
• As part of the Vibrant Village Program (VVP), 4,800 crores were given to villages near China to stop migration and boost tourism.
• voted in favor of a plan to construct a 4.1-kilometer Shinku-La tunnel on the Manali-Darcha-Padum-Nimmu axis in order to provide all-weather access to Ladakh.

Key Highlights-

• The ITBP will become the fourth-largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) thanks to the decision, which will increase its strength from the current 88,000 to 97,000. The goal of this step was to make the security grid on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) stronger.
• The need for effective border monitoring was taken into consideration when making the decision to raise additional battalions.

What obstacles can be found near the China border?

• Disputes Over Territories: Along their border, India and China have a number of territorial disputes that have resulted in frequent standoffs and tensions.
• Problems with the infrastructure: It is challenging to construct and maintain infrastructure due to the rugged, steep, and inhospitable Border region. This encompasses airports, roads, railways, and other infrastructure that is required for both civilian and military purposes.
• Military Build-up As can be seen in the Doklam and Galwan valleys, China is ramping up its military presence in a brazen manner.
• Lack of Progress: The infrastructure for basic amenities like electricity, water, and healthcare is poor in areas along the border, which are underdeveloped.
• Cyberthreats, drone attacks, and the use of malware to break into security networks are examples of modern warfare strategies China employs.
• Economic Inequality: As a result of China’s $69 billion trade surplus, India’s foreign policy has been influenced by political pressures.

The Vibrant Village Program: What is It?

• In the 2022 Budget, the centrally sponsored village development program was first announced.
• It will include Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Ladakh’s border regions.
• It will encompass 2,963 villages, of which 663 will be included in the initial coverage. For the financial years 2022-23 to 2025-26, the total cost is $1,050,000.
• The Border Area Development Program will not overlap with it.
• Through the promotion of social entrepreneurship, the empowerment of youth and women through skill development and entrepreneurship, leveraging the tourism potential through the promotion of local cultural, traditional knowledge, and heritage, and the development of sustainable eco-agribusinesses on the concept of “One village-One product” through community-based organizations, Cooperatives, SHGs, NGOs, etc., the scheme assists in identifying and developing the economic drivers based on local natural human and other resources of the border villages on the northern border.

Shinku-La tunnel 

• The Shinku-La Tunnel will be built for all-weather connectivity in Ladakh at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,681 crore.
• By December 2025, the tunnel will be completed.
• The Shinku-la is an alternative route that connects Leh, Ladakh, and the state of Himachal Pradesh to the Zanskar valley in the Union Territory of Ladakh. It runs across Darcha, Shinkula, Padum, and Nimu.

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