LEH, June 3: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has laid the foundation stone for Ladakh’s first Model Border Village at Chumur under the Government of India’s Vibrant Village Programme, aimed at strengthening border habitation and improving living conditions in remote frontier regions.
Located at an altitude of 16,700 feet along the Indo-China border, Chumur is home to 24 households and 91 residents, primarily engaged in Pashmina rearing and production. The project is the first of its kind in Ladakh and among the pioneering model border village initiatives in the country.
The village will be developed on four key pillars—modern infrastructure, livelihood generation, all-weather functionality and civil-defence integration. Under the programme, residents will receive climate-resilient passive solar houses equipped with bathrooms, homestay rooms, kitchen gardens, livestock sheds and fodder storage facilities. The houses are expected to be completed by September, subject to weather conditions.
Addressing the gathering, Saxena said the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of strong and self-reliant border villages. He described Chumur as a transformative project aimed at improving living standards, creating sustainable livelihoods and enhancing the resilience of border communities.
The project also includes a commercial greenhouse supported by the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, tourism infrastructure, renewable energy facilities, improved sanitation, digital connectivity and a central service hub comprising a school, health centre, community hall, café and tourist interpretation centre.
Ten border villages are planned to be developed as Model Border Villages in the first phase of the programme.
