In a recent press release, the Ministry of Home Affairs shed light on the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in April 2023 with the approval of February 15th, 2023. The scheme is targeted toward improving the living conditions of select villages across 19 districts and 46 blocks that lie along the northern border of India, including the Union Territory of Ladakh and states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand.
Focus Areas of the Vibrant Villages Programme
The VVP seeks to foster economic growth in these regions through a multifaceted approach encompassing tourism promotion, cultural heritage preservation, skill development, entrepreneurship, and the establishment of cooperative societies. The agricultural sector, including medicinal plant cultivation, is one key focus area. In addition, the program encompasses infrastructure projects like road connectivity, housing, village-level facilities, renewable energy, television & telecom connectivity, all intended to incentivize locals to remain in their villages.
The Role of Border Area Development Programme (BADP)
Alongside VVP, the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) is also in operation, sanctioning vital infrastructure projects within close proximity (0-10 km) to the International Boundary (IB). This programme extends across semi-urban, urban, and census towns/villages in 16 states and 2 Union Territories. It specifies certain districts for implementation of the VVP, including Kinnaur and Lahul & Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, and Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Rudraprayag districts.
Discovery of Lithium Ore in Jammu and Kashmir
Recently, some breakthrough revelations were made available by the Ministry of Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs regarding the discovery of lithium ore in the Salal-Haimna areas of Reasi District, Jammu & Kashmir. As per the Geological Survey of India’s G3 stage mineral exploration project, an inferred resource (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore has been found in the region.
About Geological Survey of India (GSI)
The Geological Survey of India (GSI), established in 1851, is a geo-scientific organization with a mandate to discover coal deposits and provide comprehensive national geo-science information and mineral resource assessment.
The advent of PAEC for Aadhaar Services by Indian Army
The Indian Army recently inaugurated its first Permanent Aadhaar Enrolment Centre (PAEC) at the 1 Central Base Post Office (CBPO) in New Delhi. The PAEC is a significant development for tri-service personnel and their dependents, providing Aadhaar-related services including enrolment and updation at 48 different locations nationwide through the Field Post Offices (FPOs).
National Coal Index (NCI) Shows A Decrease
In May 2023, the National Coal Index (NCI) recorded a considerable decrease of 33.8% compared to May 2022. NCI is a consolidated price index that includes coal prices from all sales channels, such as notified prices, auction prices, and import prices, making it a reliable indicator of market trends and offering valuable insights into fluctuations in the coal price.