In a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening border habitation and improving the quality of life in remote frontier regions, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on June 3 laid the foundation stone for Ladakh’s first Model Border Village at Chumur under the Government of India’s ambitious Vibrant Village Programme (VVP).

Located at an altitude of 16,700 feet along the Indo–China border, Chumur is home to 24 households and a population of 91, primarily engaged in Pashmina rearing and production.

The project marks a new chapter in Ladakh’s development journey and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of strong and self-reliant border villages. Beginning with Chumur, ten border villages will be developed as Model Border Villages in the first phase of the Vibrant Village Programme.

The project, the first of its kind in Ladakh and among the pioneering model border village initiatives in India, is built around four key pillars: infrastructure development, employment and livelihood generation, all-weather functionality, and civil-defence integration. It aims to transform Chumur into a self-reliant, climate-resilient, tourism-enabled, and economically vibrant border settlement.

The foundation-laying ceremony witnessed enthusiastic participation from hundreds of local residents, including youth and senior citizens, reflecting strong public support for the initiative. A large number of schoolchildren from nearby villages were also brought to the site by the district administration to understand the concept of the Vibrant Village Programme, which seeks to foster inclusivity and connect remote communities with the mainstream of development.

Under the programme, families will be provided climate-resilient, south-facing passive solar houses designed to maximise solar heat gain and protect residents from harsh winters, when temperatures can fall to as low as minus 35 degrees Celsius. Each household will receive a residential unit with an attached bathroom, an additional room suitable for homestay activities, a kitchen garden space, livestock sheds, and dedicated fodder storage facilities.

Subject to weather conditions, the houses are expected to be completed by September this year.

The project also seeks to boost local economic activity by developing Chumur as a tourism destination on the Korzok–Hanle circuit. Tourism infrastructure, including a community-run café, promotion of handicrafts, Pashmina-based livelihoods, and value-added Pashmina products, will be developed to create new income-generating opportunities for local residents. The initiative aims to encourage self-reliance and help reverse migration from border areas.

Addressing the gathering, L-G Saxena described the project as a transformative initiative that goes beyond conventional development and contributes to national security, stability, and resilience by strengthening border settlements. He said Chumur was selected as Ladakh’s first Model Border Village due to its strategic location along the India–China border.

Calling the Vibrant Village Programme a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he reiterated the Prime Minister’s vision that border villages are not the “last villages” but the “first villages” of India. He noted that the initiative is intended to improve living standards, create sustainable livelihood opportunities, and ensure long-term prosperity for residents of remote border regions.

To strengthen food security and livelihoods, a commercial greenhouse measuring 90 x 27 feet will be established with support from the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) for year-round vegetable cultivation. The produce will meet local requirements and supply nearby defence establishments, including the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), thereby creating a sustainable market for villagers and promoting stronger civil-defence cooperation.

The village has been planned as an all-weather settlement with reliable water supply, improved sanitation and wastewater management systems, renewable energy-based power infrastructure, modern digital connectivity, and enhanced winter habitability.

A central service core comprising a school, Primary Health Centre (PHC), community hall, parks, community café, and Tourist Interpretation Centre (TIC) will provide essential services and strengthen the village’s social and economic life.

L-G Saxena also acknowledged the crucial role of the Indian Army, ITBP, local residents, and youth in ensuring the success of the initiative and thanked the security forces for their dedicated service in the region.

Envisioned as a self-reliant, climate-resilient, tourism-enabled, and economically vibrant border settlement, the Chumur Model Border Village is expected to emerge as a benchmark for sustainable development in high-altitude frontier regions and serve as a model for border villages across the country.

Key Highlights of Chumur Model Border Village

Chumur – Ladakh’s First Model Border Village
•    First village of its kind in Ladakh and among the pioneering model border villages in India.
•    Developed under the Vibrant Village Programme as a sustainable and resilient border settlement.
•    Aims to improve quality of life while strengthening border habitation.
Settlement Stabilisation
•    Transition from a largely nomadic lifestyle to a secure and permanent settlement.
•    South-facing passive solar houses designed to maximise sunlight and shield residents from cold winds during severe winters.
Each Family Will Receive
•    Residential house with attached bathroom.
•    Additional room suitable for homestay and tourism activities.
•    Kitchen garden space for household cultivation.
•    Individual goat/sheep shed.
•    Dedicated fodder storage for year-round livestock support.
Local Economy Activation
•    Development of Chumur as a tourism destination on the Korzok–Hanle circuit.
•    Establishment of a community-run café to promote local entrepreneurship.
•    Capacity-building and skill-development initiatives in Pashmina production and value addition.
•    Promotion of locally produced value-added Pashmina products.
•    Establishment of a 90 × 27 ft commercial greenhouse with support from DIHAR.
•    Fresh vegetable production to generate income and meet local as well as defence requirements.
All-Weather Functionality
•    Reliable year-round water supply system.
•    Sustainable power supply through maximum utilisation of solar energy.
•    Improved sanitation and wastewater management infrastructure.
•    Enhanced habitability during harsh winter conditions.
Civil–Defence Integration
•    Greenhouse produce to be supplied to nearby defence establishments.
•    Creation of a sustainable local market for villagers.
•    Stronger civil-defence cooperation and mutual support.
•    Employment opportunities through engagement with defence forces.
Settlement Structure
•    Cluster-based neighbourhoods comprising 8–10 housing units each.
•    Houses oriented southward for optimum solar gain and wind protection.
•    Dedicated greenhouse belt integrated into village planning.
•    Livestock infrastructure designed according to the geography and climatic conditions of Changthang.
Central Service Core
•    School
•    Primary Health Centre (PHC)
•    Community Hall
•    Parks
•    Community Café
•    Tourist Interpretation Centre (TIC)