In a significant step toward enhancing local economies in Uttarakhand, authorities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday aimed at generating Rs 200 crore in revenue over the next five years. The agreement was established between the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the state government under the Vibrant Village Scheme.

The MoU will facilitate the supply of local products, including live goats, sheep, chickens, and fish, to the ITBP battalion stationed in the region. BVRC Purushottam, Secretary of Animal Husbandry, and IG Sanjay Gunjyal from ITBP were key figures in signing this agreement.

During the event, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasised the positive impact this initiative would have on local livelihoods. He remarked that it would foster a sense of connection between residents and the nation’s security efforts. “People living in the border areas are the sentinels of the country,” he stated, underlining the importance of their role.

The Chief Minister instructed officials to ensure a steady supply of local products, directing them to develop a plan for providing vegetables, milk, cheese, and eggs to the ITBP.

Animal Husbandry Minister Saurabh Bahuguna highlighted that this decision is crucial for boosting the livelihoods of animal breeders and fish farmers. He expressed confidence that the project would play a vital role in curbing migration from the hills.

The agreement is set to benefit over 11,000 animal breeders, including 7,000 women, through more than 80 cooperative societies across the state. The initiative involves 10,000 animal breeders supplying sheep and goats, over 800 poultry farmers providing chickens, and 500 fish farmers supplying trout to the ITBP.

This landmark agreement marks the first time in Uttarakhand that such a substantial number of farmers are being given a platform to market their sheep, goats, fish, and poultry products, promising a brighter economic future for the region.