Dehradun: In the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today at the Chief Minister’s residence between the Government of Uttarakhand and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) under the ‘Healthy Border Campaign’. Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat and Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bahuguna were also present on the occasion.
The objective of this MoU is to provide integrated primary healthcare services to the civilian population residing in 108 border villages under Pithoragarh, Chamoli, and Uttarkashi districts. This campaign is being launched as Phase-1, through which access to healthcare services will be ensured in remote and border areas.
Under the MoU, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Headquarters Northern Frontier, Dehradun has been designated as the first party and the Medical Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Uttarakhand as the second party. According to the agreement, the ITBP will provide qualified doctors, paramedical staff, and available MI rooms and telemedicine facilities. Regular visits will be made to the border villages as per the schedule to provide healthcare services to the local citizens. The maintenance of medical health cards/records of the beneficiaries and proper management of equipment, medicines, and consumables will also be ensured.
The Government of Uttarakhand will provide demographic data of the concerned villages and provide necessary medical equipment at the initial stage. A continuous supply of medicines and other materials will be ensured every six months based on consumption. The state government will also be responsible for evacuation in emergency situations, telecommunication support, and ownership and necessary replacement of equipment.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the ‘Healthy Border Campaign’ is an effective initiative towards improving the living standards of citizens residing in border areas. This will not only strengthen healthcare facilities but also promote trust, security, and stability in the border villages. He said that the government is committed to the all-round development of the border areas and this MoU is an important step in that direction. On this occasion, ITBP officials informed that, as per the current status of the MoU previously signed between the ITBP and the Uttarakhand government for the supply of local products, 25 percent of the supply has commenced on a trial basis from November 2024, and 100 percent supply will begin from March 2025. Under this arrangement, products such as live sheep/goats, live chickens, Himalayan trout fish, fresh milk, cheese, and TPM are being procured through various cooperative societies. So far, approximately 3,79,650.23 kilograms and 3,25,318.72 liters of products have been procured, with a total estimated cost of over ₹11.94 crore. This initiative is directly benefiting the state’s livestock farmers, fish farmers, and milk producers, while also promoting local products and strengthening the rural economy.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that this initiative will prove to be a milestone in making border areas self-reliant, connecting local citizens with livelihoods, and ensuring stability in areas related to national security. The state government is continuously committed to the all-round development of border areas.
The program presented a detailed overview of the proposed procurement of local products from Vibrant Border Villages for the year 2026. Under this, the procurement of 400,000 kilograms of live sheep/goats is proposed at a cost of ₹13 crore, 250,000 kilograms of live chickens at ₹4 crore, and 82,000 kilograms of Himalayan trout fish at ₹3.90 crore. In addition, 21,302 kilograms of cheese will be procured at ₹0.79 crore, 473,532 liters of fresh milk at ₹3.3 crore, and 140,018 liters of TPM at ₹1.5 crore. Following the MoU, the purchase of 9,85,391 kilograms of vegetables is estimated at Rs. 2.77 crore, and the purchase of 6,20,228 kilograms of fruits is estimated at Rs. 3.50 crore. Thus, a total of approximately 7,53,302 kilograms, 6,13,550 liters, and 16,05,619 kilograms of products will be purchased after the MoU, with a total estimated cost of approximately Rs. 32.76 crore.
On this occasion, it was informed that under the upcoming MoUs and proposed agreements, an agreement is planned to strengthen the direct procurement process of non-vegetarian products from local livestock farmers, thereby eliminating the role of intermediaries and ensuring direct benefits to the producers. Additionally, under the helipad agreement signed with the Uttarakhand Tourism Department, a total of 221 helicopter landings have been successfully conducted so far, which has made connectivity and supply systems more effective in border and remote areas.
Under other agreements to be made in the future, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has identified 108 border villages in Uttarakhand in the first phase. Considering the distance to Public Health Centers (PHCs) and veterinary centers in these villages, work will be done on alternative arrangements to increase access to health and veterinary services.
