Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired the maiden meeting of the Union Territory Level Screening Committee (UTLSC) under the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP), convened by the Planning, Development & Monitoring Department (PD&MD), to review and finalize the development roadmap for the identified border villages across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by the concerned Administrative Secretaries, Heads of Departments and Deputy Commissioners of the respective districts. Taking a comprehensive review of the district-wise proposals, the Chief Secretary undertook a first-hand appraisal of the projects envisaged under the programme across the identified border villages spread over eight districts of the Union Territory.
He emphasized that all developmental interventions should be implemented in a mission mode, ensuring optimum utilization of resources and coordinated execution by different departments for creating tangible improvements in the quality of life of the people residing in these remote border areas.
He observed that the Vibrant Villages Programme offers a unique opportunity to transform the socio-economic landscape of these strategically important villages through integrated planning and timely execution of projects. He called upon all departments and district administrations to ensure seamless coordination so that the benefits of various Central and UT schemes reach the targeted population in an effective and time-bound manner.
Introducing the agenda of the meeting, Commissioner Secretary, Planning, Development & Monitoring Department, R. Alice Vaz, highlighted the vision and objectives of the Vibrant Villages Programme. She informed that the programme envisages focused interventions in selected border villages aimed at creating sustainable livelihood opportunities through the promotion of tourism and cultural heritage, skill development, entrepreneurship, cooperative development, agriculture and horticulture, besides encouraging the cultivation of medicinal plants and herbs.
She further stated that the programme also prioritizes strengthening basic infrastructure by improving road connectivity to unconnected habitations, providing quality housing and village infrastructure, enhancing energy access including renewable energy, and ensuring television and telecom connectivity.
The overarching objective of these interventions, she said, is to generate adequate economic opportunities and improve living standards, thereby encouraging people to continue residing in these border villages. Giving a detailed presentation, Nodal Officer, Vibrant Villages Programme in PD&MD, Owais Ahmad, informed the Committee that the district administrations have formulated a comprehensive portfolio of development projects aligned with the thematic focus areas of the programme.
He informed that the proposed interventions include 83 projects in Baramulla, 57 in Bandipora, 526 in Jammu, 117 in Kathua, 195 in Poonch, 92 in Rajouri and 121 in Samba district, covering a wide spectrum of infrastructure creation, livelihood generation and public service delivery.
The meeting was further informed that, under PMGSY-IV, road connectivity is proposed to be extended to 24 presently uncovered villages under the programme. Additionally, 8,513 households are proposed to be provided on-grid electricity connections, while 16,702 households will be covered with Direct-to-Home (DTH) television connectivity through the provision of set-top boxes, significantly improving access to information, education and entertainment in these remote areas.
The meeting concluded with detailed deliberations on the proposed projects, with the Chief Secretary directing all the concerned departments and district administrations to ensure meticulous planning, inter-departmental coordination and timely implementation so that the objectives of the Vibrant Villages Programme are achieved in letter and spirit, making the border villages economically vibrant, socially resilient and better connected with the mainstream.
Atal Dulloo