Big infrastructure push for villages on border

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is Vibrant Villages Programme?
• What is the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)?
• News Summary: Big infrastructure push for villages on border
• Counter to China at the LAC

Why in news?

• The Union Cabinet has approved the allocation of Rs 4,800 crore for the Centre’s Vibrant Villages Programme for the Financial Years 2022-23 to 2025-26.
• Also, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the induction of over 9,000 troops in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

What is Vibrant Villages Programme?

• Background:
  • Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) was announced in the Finance Minister’s Budget Speech 2022.
  • The programme envisages coverage of border villages on Northern border having sparse population, limited connectivity and infrastructure, which often get left out from the development gains.
• Coverage
  • The Centrally sponsored village scheme will cover the border areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Ladakh.
• Aims
  • To ensure comprehensive development of villages of blocks on the northern border, thereby improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages.
  • To encourage people to stay in their native locations in border areas, reversing outmigration from these regions and contributing to improved border security.
• Implementation
  • The programme will provide funding for the development of vital infrastructure and creation of livelihood opportunities in 19 districts, 46 border blocks, four states, and one UT along the country’s northern land border.
  • 663 villages will be included in the initiative in the first phase.
  • The programme assists in identifying and developing the economic drivers based on local human and natural resources of the border villages on the northern border.
• Institutions involved
  • Gram Panchayats will assist the district administration in developing vibrant village action plans.
  • Through this 100 % saturation of Central and state schemes will be ensured.
• No overlap with Border Area Development Program
  • The government has stated that VVP will not have an overlap with Border Area Development Program (BADP).
  • The Department of Border Management, MHA has been implementing the BADP through the State Governments as part of a comprehensive approach to Border Management.
  • The programme aims to meet the special development needs of the people living in remote and inaccessible areas situated near the international border.
  • It also aims to saturate the border areas with the essential infrastructure.

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What is the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)?

• About
  • ITBP is a specialized Armed Police Force of the Nation which was raised in the wake of Chinese aggression in 1962 with a modest strength of 4 battalions.
  • It was raised under an integrated ‘guerrilla-cum-intelligence-cum-fighting Force’ self-contained in supplies, communication and intelligence collection.
• Role
  • At present, the ITBP guards 3,488 km long India-China borders ranging from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Apart from this, the Force also has important roles in many internal security duties and operations against the Left-Wing Extremism in the state of Chhattisgarh.
  • ITBP also conducts relief and rescue operations as ‘First Responders’ for natural calamities in the Himalayan region.
• Headquarter and administrative control
  • The Force Headquarters is in New Delhi. It is under the administrative control of MHA.

News Summary: Big infrastructure push for villages on border

• The Union Cabinet has approved two decisions:
  • raising of seven new ITBP battalions and
  • allocated ₹4,800 crore under the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) to stop migration and boost tourism in villages bordering China.
• These two decisions are aimed at bolstering social and security framework along the China border.

Counter to China at the LAC

• The government’s decision to approve a financial package for border villages and upgrade security comes at a time when issues with China are still to be resolved along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.
• PLA troops are still squatting in the Depsang Plains and Demchok. China is also upgrading its infrastructure along the LAC.

Q1) What is Border Area Development Program (BADP)?

 The BADP aims to meet the special development needs of the people living in remote and inaccessible areas situated near the international border. It also aims to saturate the border areas with the essential infrastructure.

Q2) What is the role of Cabinet Committee on security in India?

 Major decisions with respect to the significant appointments, issues of national security, defence expenditure of India, are taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in India. The Prime Minister chairs the CCS which comprises the minister of external affairs, the home minister, finance minister, and the defence minister.

Source: Big infrastructure push for villages on border; 7 new ITBP battalions | PIB | MHA | ITBP | The Hindu