Dehradun: Rural Development Secretary Dhiraj Garviyal today reviewed the progress of the Chief Minister’s Migration Prevention Scheme, Chief Minister’s Border Area Development Program, and Vibrant Villages Program via video conferencing with Chief Development Officers of all districts. He also directed them to prepare concrete action plans for the upcoming financial year 2025-26.
In the meeting, the Rural Development Secretary clarified that livelihood-creating activities should be prioritized when formulating action plans. Particular emphasis was placed on establishing at least one mother poultry unit in each identified development block, and promoting activities such as fisheries, animal husbandry, beekeeping, community tourism, and processing at the local level. Instructions were also given to include proposals for chain-link fencing to protect crops from wild animals in rural areas, to help prevent migration and promote reverse migration.
Instructions were also given to propose schemes keeping in mind the goal of making women from self-help groups “Lakhpati Didi.” Emphasis was also placed on marketing the products of the Growth Centers operating in the districts and their regular monitoring.
Progress of the schemes for the border districts of Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar was reviewed separately. The Secretary directed that a cluster-based village saturation action plan be prepared for villages in the border areas, incorporating livelihood creation and self-employment activities along with basic amenities.
Under the Vibrant Villages Program, instructions were given to saturate each border village with roads, 4G telecom connectivity, TV connectivity, and grid electricity. Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Pithoragarh districts were asked to submit their saturation action plans for VVP-1 villages to the portal soon. Integrated tourism development plans will also be prepared for each VVP village.
The Secretary informed that SPMU and ITDA were instructed to make the online portal operational within a week to ensure timely receipt of proposals for all schemes.
Additional Secretary for Rural Development, Mrs. Anuradha Pal, Joint Development Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner A.K. Rajput, Dr. Prabhakar Bebani, along with officials from SPMU and ITDA were present at the meeting. Chief Development Officers of all districts joined via video conferencing.
