Centre Urges Private Players To Contribute In Development Of 'Vibrant Villages' In Border Areas Facing China

The Government of India (GoI) is now nudging private sector companies to start investing in the development of the infrastructure of villages close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

These villages, situated in the far-flung areas of the northern and northeastern states, will make life easier for the villagers in these areas, bringing them closer to the rest of India.

These vibrant villages will also serve as a counter to the Chinese Xiaokang villages programme, which China created to change facts on the ground to back their claims on Indian territory opposite all of the Indian border states, ie, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Himachal Pradesh.

According to The Tribune, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane has asked private firms to contribute to the infrastructure upgradation in these border villages.

A Defence Ministry statement quoting Secretary Aramane stated, "He urged firms to set up a separate section within their respective organizations that focuses on development in far-flung areas."

The programme was started by Home Minister Amit Shah in April 2023 during his visit to Arunachal Pradesh and will cover 662 villages in the first phase. This upgradation programme will cost Rs 4,800 crore.

Of the 662 villages, most — 455 — are in Arunachal Pradesh, with the remaining 75 in Himachal Pradesh, 51 in Uttarakhand, 35 in Ladakh, and 46 in Sikkim.

India has selected a total of 2,963 villages for upgradation over the next 10 years, all of which are within 10 kilometres of the LAC.

Notably, this initiative comes after a brutal clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in June 2020. Following that clash, Indian and Chinese troops have been in a four year long standoff, with no signs of easing.