Gangtok, March 12: As part of their ongoing media exposure visit to Sikkim, a delegation of journalists from Meghalaya today visited Tingda village in North Sikkim, one of the villages covered under the Government of India’s Vibrant Villages Programme. The visit enabled the journalists to observe firsthand the developmental initiatives being undertaken to strengthen infrastructure, connectivity and livelihood opportunities in remote border villages.
During the visit, Prashant Kumar Sinha, Deputy Commandant, 13th Battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), briefed the delegation about the objectives and implementation of the programme and the role played by the ITBP in supporting developmental activities and community engagement in border areas.
The Vibrant Villages Programme was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in 2023, and Tingda village was included in Phase I of the programme, which focuses on the holistic development of villages located along the northern border.
Shri Sinha explained that the programme seeks to transform border villages into vibrant and self-reliant communities by ensuring the saturation of central and state government schemes and promoting development across multiple sectors such as road connectivity, housing, energy, telecommunications, tourism, skill development and livelihood generation.
Assistant Director from the Rural Development Department, Government of Sikkim, also briefed the visiting journalists about the various development programmes and welfare initiatives being implemented by the State Government to improve rural infrastructure, strengthen livelihood opportunities and ensure the effective delivery of government schemes in villages across the state.
He further noted that the initiative encourages the development of sustainable economic activities such as agriculture, horticulture, handicrafts and eco-tourism, while also empowering local communities through skill development and entrepreneurship.
Shri Sinha added that the development of vibrant and economically active villages along the border is important not only from a developmental perspective but also from a strategic point of view, as it encourages people to continue living in these remote areas and strengthens India’s presence in border regions.
During the visit, the President of the Gram Panchayat of Tingda village also briefed the delegation about the village and the impact of the Vibrant Villages Programme on the local community. He informed that Tingda village has around 213 households with a population of nearly 1,000 residents, and several development initiatives have helped improve infrastructure, connectivity and livelihood opportunities for the villagers.
The journalists also interacted with villagers, local representatives and community members, who shared their experiences about living in a border village and spoke about the changes brought about by various government initiatives under the Vibrant Villages Programme. Villagers highlighted improvements in connectivity, access to government schemes and livelihood opportunities, while also expressing optimism about further development in the region.
