The Indian Army, due to its deployments in far-fetched areas having little development, has actively undertaken rural development, particularly in remote and underserved areas, by implementing various initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, healthcare, education, and community well-being.
These efforts are part of the civil-military relations that the Army seeks to bolster to gain the confidence of the local population.
The projects include a wide range of activities such as the national integration tour, healthcare, HR development, women empowerment, environment protection, education, and sports.
According to the Ministry of Defence’s annual data, an annual financial allocation of approximately Rs 150 crore has been designated for these projects, with 75 percent of them being implemented in the 100 Vibrant Villages identified by the Indian Army under the Vibrant Villages Programme.
A total of 68 projects, amounting to Rs 4.43 crore, are currently being implemented in the ‘Vibrant Villages’ along the northern borders, as has been mentioned by the Ministry of Defence in its year-end review. These projects primarily focus on infrastructure development, including the construction of community halls, grazier huts, toilet blocks, and rain shelters, as well as the installation of solar power plants and hybrid power systems.
To undertake the holistic development of a village, the Indian Army carries out multifaceted initiatives.
The force’s outreach measures include—infrastructure development such as construction of roads, bridges and tunnels to facilitate smooth and economic activity. Infrastructure has both civil and military benefits in remote regions.
To increase social engagement, the Indian Army often also undertakes the construction of community halls and centres in rural areas. These are often used for vocational training purposes which ensures advancement of the rural population.
Medical camps, which are also conducted in these spaces built by the Army, provide free check-ups, medicines, and specialised care for women and children. The Army conducts vaccination campaigns and health awareness programmes to address prevalent health issues in rural communities. Medical facilities are one of the important pillars of model villages which seek to provide dispensaries and clinics, to ensure that villagers have access to medical care.
The Army helps in building basic infrastructure like roads, water supply, sanitation facilities, electricity, and housing, aiming to provide a better standard of living for villagers.
One of the most notable and noble initiatives of the Indian Army is Operation Sadbhavana which seeks to provide quality education to children in conflict zones affected such as Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
To add to this, the Indian Army also supports Veer Naris (widows of soldiers) by addressing their grievances and providing support. Often, they are helped in setting up small businesses.
Separately, to empower local women, the Indian Army helps in setting up businesses. One such shining example is that the Kibithu Bakery and Café is situated in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district, and is entirely managed by women of the village who are involved in food production and sales. It is known as India’s eastern-most bakery.
In collaboration with local communities, the Army also conducts tree plantation campaigns to promote environmental sustainability.
The Army, which is well-versed in combat, also carries out holistic development of communities, ultimately aiming to uplift families bogged down by conflicts and poverty. This brings in a semblance of stability in regions.
The Northern Army command, for instance, administers the 14 Corps, 15 Corps, and 16 Corps of the Indian Army which oversee the areas of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, with responsibilities for both the LOC (with Pakistan) and LAC (with China).
Improved connectivity and additional facilities help the overall improvement of the standard of living of the local population.
Through its model villages programme, the Army aims to improve socio-economic conditions of rural areas, particularly in border regions. These villages are developed to create self-sustaining, well-developed communities with better infrastructure and quality of life for the locals.
The Indian Army in its pursuit of supporting farmers in J&K and Ladakh by facilitating the implementation of government schemes, improving agricultural techniques, and boosting local economies through agricultural procurement.
As part of farmers engagements, the Indian Army provides security for movement of apples during harvest season, support for saffron and mushroom cultivation and introduction of micro-irrigation and modern packaging techniques. The Army in collaboration with DRDO also provides seminars on new farming techniques in Leh and organic produce promotion in high-altitude areas. 90,172 farmers directly supported through Army procurement.
Furthermore, the Indian Army also focuses on the utilisation and preservation of native animal species in Ladakh, contributing to sustainable logistics and local employment.
The northern command generated significant indirect employment opportunities across various sectors, contributing to local economies and livelihoods last year.
A total of 10,200 personnel were employed as porters and pony handlers, with Rs 255.08 crore allocated for their engagement. Civil Hired Transport (CHT) employs 1,23,450 personnel, supported by a budget of ₹169.14 crore. Additionally, 2,586 conservancy workers were engaged with an allocation of ₹77.25 crore. In the construction and works sector, 2,972 individuals were employed, with ₹158.25 crore earmarked for their services.
The medical and supplies sector includes 750 medical staff and 1,555 supplies staff, ensuring operational efficiency in remote areas. Furthermore, 322 engineers were outsourced at a cost of ₹3.42 crore, while Defence Porter Companies employed 6,000 personnel to support logistics and operations in challenging terrains. These initiatives underlined the Army’s role in fostering employment while enhancing its operational effectiveness.
The Indian Army has played a pivotal role in empowering communities in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh by equipping them with essential skills for self-employment, aligning with the Skill India Mission. It has also organised multi-skill training workshops for rural youth and women, alongside digital literacy capsules to enhance technological proficiency. These initiatives aim to foster self-reliance and improve socio-economic conditions in these conflict-affected areas.
Over the years, due to the sustained development, the Army has seen increased trust and improved security from the local population.
Aritra Banerjee is a defence & security analyst