Raj govt's Thar border scheme to boost infra in 1,206 villages

Jaipur: The state govt has launched the Chief Minister Thar Border Area Development Programme to enhance infrastructure in border villages, focusing on education, healthcare, sanitation, and agriculture across 1,206 villages in Barmer, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Sriganganagar districts.

According to the guidelines issued by the Rural Development Department, the programme aims for holistic development, addressing regional imbalances. The initiative is a 100% state-funded programme and is designed to address the specific needs and challenges of the border regions. "Convergence can be done with central and state government schemes, as well as individual or standalone projects from local bodies, provided such works are permitted under the programme," the guidelines stated.

A district-level committee will prepare an annual action plan, focusing on economic, social, and physical infrastructure development, tailored to the region's unique needs. After approval by the district committee, the plan will be forwarded to the state-level committee for final approval via the departmental e-work portal. The minimum value for any project in the action plan will be Rs 5 lakh.

"Funds will be allocated only for projects where the assets created are owned by government departments, urban bodies, or Panchayat Raj institutions," the guidelines stated.