The Central Government has approved Rs 117 crore for the development of 75 border villages in Himachal Pradesh under the Vibrant Villages Programme-II.

The information was shared in the Rajya Sabha by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, and Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayat Chaudhary, during the ongoing monsoon session. A total of 113 projects have been sanctioned, focusing on improving infrastructure and livelihoods in areas along the China border.

These projects include the construction of multipurpose community halls, sewage treatment plants, internal roads, solar-powered street lighting, skill development initiatives, and the creation of tourism infrastructure. The Vibrant Villages Programme-I, a Centrally sponsored scheme, was launched on 15 February, 2023, for the holistic development of villages in 46 blocks across 19 districts in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Additionally, under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), 1.76 lakh youth in Himachal Pradesh have received skill training since 2015, with 27,185 of them gaining employment placements, according to Minister Jayat Chaudhary.