Budget 2022: New scheme to build infra in villages along China border

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman briefly touched upon a scheme to boost infrastructure in villages along the border with China in her Budget speech. Prime Minister Narendra Modi later mentioned that developing infrastructure in such villages are also necessary for the country’s security.

In her speech, Sitharaman said that border villages with sparse population, limited connectivity and infrastructure often get left out from development gains. Now, under a Vibrant Villages programme, “such villages on the northern border will be covered”, and activities will include “construction of village infrastructure, housing, tourist centres, road connectivity, provisioning of decentralised renewable energy, direct-to-home access for Doordarshan and educational channels, and support for livelihood generation”.