The New Indian Express ·
India’s border villages get Rs 11,639-crore push to develop 2,616 villages near international borders
NEW DELHI: Once known for being neglected and cut off from the rest of the country, India’s border villages are fast turning into hubs of economic activity.
One of the major drivers of the change is the Centre’s decision to turn paramilitary outposts along international borders into buyers of local produce. The move is part of a Rs 11,639 crore push to keep villages populated along sensitive frontiers under the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP).
Overall, 2,616 villages situated along the international borders are covered under VVP, in two phases. These include 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh, 75 in HP, 51 in Uttarakhand, 46 in Sikkim, and 35 in Ladakh.
