DEHRADUN: A comprehensive strategy to strengthen development in border-area villages and curb out-migration is being drawn up after a recent detailed statewide review chaired by Rural Development Secretary Dhiraj Garbyal. The review, conducted through video conferencing, assessed progress under the Chief Minister’s Migration Control Scheme, the Chief Minister Border Area Development Programme and the Vibrant Villages Programme.
Our correspondent reports that Chief Development Officers (CDOs) from all districts participated in the review, during which the Secretary instructed officials to ensure that all plans focus on immediate livelihood creation and long-term economic stability in remote regions. He said that development efforts must be designed to strengthen local income sources and prevent families from leaving their home villages.
The Secretary emphasised that generating livelihood opportunities must remain the top priority while drafting block-level plans. “Every identified development block must have at least one mother poultry unit,” he said. He also directed districts to promote fisheries, animal husbandry, beekeeping, community-based tourism and processing-related activities. “Our goal is to ensure that people find sustainable income opportunities within their own villages,” he added.
Our correspondent adds that the Secretary instructed all district teams to include proposals for chain-link fencing in rural areas to protect crops from wild animals. He noted that crop damage is one of the biggest causes of financial distress in hill villages and contributes significantly to forced migration. He said, “Unless we protect the livelihood of farmers, we cannot expect reverse migration to gain momentum.”
The review meeting also highlighted the objective of transforming women-led self-help groups into “Lakhpati Didis.” The Secretary urged officials to introduce proposals that enhance income-earning capacity among women’s groups. He stressed that the marketing system for products made in district-level growth centres must be upgraded and monitored regularly to ensure consistent earnings.
During the meeting, the Secretary conducted a separate review of schemes related to the border-districts of Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar. He directed officers to prepare cluster-based saturation plans for villages in border areas. These plans must integrate basic infrastructure such as roads, potable water and power supply along with livelihood-focused and self-employment-oriented activities. “We must ensure that every border village is fully equipped to support families. Development must be integrated, not fragmented,” he said.
Under the Vibrant Villages Programme, the Secretary directed that every identified village in border regions be saturated with road connectivity, 4G telecom coverage, television access and grid electricity. He instructed the districts of Chamoli, Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh to send their saturation plans for VVP-1 villages to the portal without delay. “Tourism potential must also be fully tapped. Every Vibrant Village will have an integrated tourism development plan,” he said.
Officials were informed that the online portal for submitting proposals under all schemes will be activated within one week. The Secretary instructed SPMU and ITDA teams to complete the activation on priority so that proposals from districts can be received on time and workflow can be monitored centrally.
Senior officials including Additional Secretary Rural Development Anuradha Pal, Joint Development Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Commissioners A.K. Rajput and Dr Prabhakar Bebni were present during the meeting. SPMU and ITDA teams also attended, while all district CDOs participated via video conference.
The Secretary underlined that the government’s broader objective is to strengthen rural infrastructure, improve household income and ensure that border regions remain vibrant, secure and economically active. “Migration will stop only when local opportunities become stronger than the reasons for leaving,” he said. He further emphasised that the coming months would be crucial for finalising project proposals, securing funds and beginning ground-level work.
Officials from several districts said that local communities had responded positively to the new initiatives. They stated that villagers are hopeful that improved livelihood options, tourism-based activity and better infrastructure will create employment for youth. One CDO said, “Communities in border areas are deeply committed to staying in their villages. This programme gives them a real chance to rebuild local economies.”
The government has noted that reversing migration remains one of the state’s most important long-term priorities. With multiple schemes now being synchronised under a unified planning structure, officials say the administration aims to build strong and self-sustaining border villages in the coming years.
Dheeraj reports on governance, public services, jobs, and regional developments across Uttarakhand. He specialises in recruitment news, public-sector updates, and civic issues that impact everyday citizens. His reporting brings accuracy, context, and a grassroots perspective to local journalism.
