The Government has approved Vibrant Villages Programme-I (VVP-I) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on 15^th February, 2023 for comprehensive development of the select villages in 46 blocks abutting northern border in 19 districts in   the  States of   Arunachal Pradesh,  Himachal  Pradesh,  Sikkim, Uttarakhand and UT of Ladakh. Since the launch of the Vibrant Villages Programme-I (VVP-I) in 2023, 832 Projects in Arunachal Pradesh, 98 in Himachal Pradesh, 79 in Ladakh (UT), 87 in Sikkim and 152 in Uttarakhand have been sanctioned under the programme by MHA with an outlay of ₹3065.32 Crore. As reported by the States/UT, 316 projects have been completed as on date. Further, 1658 projects have been sanctioned by the Central Ministries/Departments under convergence.

Under VVP-I, 662 villages have been identified for comprehensive development on priority, comprising 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh, 46 in Sikkim, 51 in Uttarakhand, 75 in Himachal Pradesh and 35 in the UT of Ladakh. An amount of ₹953.47 crore has been released to the States/UT under the programme.

Under VVP-I, 111 road projects with an outlay of ₹2,481.93 crore have been sanctioned for providing all-weather road connectivity to 134 unconnected villages. As informed by the Ministries/Departments/State Governments, 528 villages are connected with 4G mobile connectivity, 625 villages are covered with piped drinking water supply and 621 villages have access to on-grid/off-grid electricity. In addition, MHA has sanctioned 140 off-grid solar projects and 7 micro-hydel projects under VVP-I. Under convergence, Ministry of Power has sanctioned 43 projects with an outlay of ₹238.30 crore for augmentation of power distribution infrastructure.

40 Mobile Medical Units have been sanctioned under VVP-I for health services in Arunachal Pradesh. 146 projects for construction/ upgradation of school infrastructure have been sanctioned under the programme.

The implementation of projects under Vibrant Villages Programme-I (VVP-I) is reviewed periodically. Necessary coordination with the Ministries/Departments concerned and the State Governments/UT Administration is undertaken wherever required to facilitate implementation. No third-party evaluation has been conducted under Vibrant Villages Programme-I (VVP-I).

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

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RK/PR/PS/SC