Jammu and Kashmir unveils ‘Viksit Village’ plan, one model village in every constituency

In a major rural development push, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday announced the launch of a ‘Viksit Village’ project aimed at ensuring holistic growth across all Assembly constituencies of the Union Territory.

The announcement was made during the 2026-27 budget discussions , with Agriculture Minister Javed Ahmed Dar unveiling a dedicated fund for MLAs to develop one model village in each constituency . The initiative seeks to move beyond routine infrastructure works and focus on structured, long-term rural transformation.

According to the minister, the project is aligned with the broader model village framework and is designed to provide modern infrastructure, quality education, improved healthcare access, and sustainable livelihood opportunities . The objective is to ensure comprehensive upliftment of rural communities through focused planning rather than scattered interventions.

The scheme builds upon the earlier model village concept implemented by the previous administration, but with clearer financial structuring and expanded components. An outlay of Rs 1,800 lakh under the Urban Development Capex 2026–27 has been proposed for the flagship programme. Of this, Rs 90 crore has been earmarked under the community development programme, while Rs 38.50 crore will be routed through the infrastructure frameworks of Block Development Councils and District Development Councils. The estimated expenditure for developing each model village is around Rs 2 crore .

MLAs have been advised to identify suitable villages based on plans prepared at the gram panchayat level , ensuring that development priorities reflect local needs.

Officials said the initiative is expected to significantly strengthen rural infrastructure and improve access to essential services, marking a focused step towards inclusive and balanced development across Jammu and Kashmir.