In a significant development aimed at strengthening border habitation and improving the quality of life for residents in remote frontier regions, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has laid the foundation stone for the first Model Border Village at Chumur under the Centre’s ambitious Vibrant Village Programme (VVP).
Perched at an altitude of 16,700 feet along the Indo–China border, Chumur is home to 24 households with a population of 91, all of whom are engaged in Pashmina rearing and production.
A statement noted: “This project will script a new chapter in Ladakh’s development journey, aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of strong, self-reliant border villages. Beginning with Chumur, 10 such border villages will be developed as Model Border Villages in the first phase of the VVP.”
Officials explained that the project, first-of-its-kind in Ladakh and among the pioneering model border villages in India, will focus on four key pillars: Infrastructure, Employment and Livelihood Creation, All-Weather Functionality and Civilian–Defence Integration.
The initiative seeks to develop Chumur as a self-reliant, climate-resilient, tourism-enabled, and economically vibrant border settlement.
The foundation-laying ceremony witnessed jubilant celebrations from hundreds of locals, including youth and senior citizens, reflecting their aspirations and wholehearted support for the initiative. Schoolchildren from nearby villages were brought in by the district administration to witness the event and learn about the Vibrant Village concept, which aims to foster inclusivity and connect border residents with mainstream development.
Under the programme, families will be provided with climate-resilient, south-facing passive solar houses designed to maximise solar heat gain and withstand harsh winters, when temperatures can plummet to –35°C. Each household will receive a residential unit with an attached bathroom, an additional room suitable for homestay activities, kitchen garden space, livestock sheds, and dedicated fodder storage facilities. Subject to weather conditions, these houses are expected to be completed by September this year. L-G Saxena described the project as a transformative initiative.
