News Brief
Beyond China Frontier, Arunachal Pradesh Seeks Vibrant Village Expansion To Myanmar And Bhutan Border Regions
An Indian Army soldier keeps a vigil at Bumla pass at the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh. Photo credit: BIJU BORO/AFP/GettyImages
The Arunachal Pradesh government has urged the Centre to extend the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) beyond its current focus on border areas with China, to include the villages along the India-Myanmar and India-Bhutan borders, reported The Arunachal Times.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, speaking in the Assembly on Monday (10 March), highlighted the need to expand the programme for balanced development across all frontier regions.
Current Status of the Vibrant Village Programme
Launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on 10 April 2023, the VVP was introduced as a replacement for the earlier Border Area Development Programme (BADP) and currently prioritises border villages along India’s northern frontier.
In its first phase, 455 villages across 11 districts of Arunachal Pradesh are being developed under this initiative.
According to Mein, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 2,205 crore for constructing 105 roads spanning 1,022 km, which will improve connectivity to 125 villages.
Arunachal's Demand for Inclusion of Other Border Regions
Despite ongoing efforts, many villages along the Myanmar and Bhutan borders remain excluded, leading to concerns over uneven development.
To address this gap, the state government is pursuing alternative funding through the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and multiple State-run development initiatives.
Mein stressed the importance of expanding the programme beyond the Chinese border, arguing that border villages along Myanmar and Bhutan also require infrastructure development and economic support.
Key Features of the Vibrant Village Programme
Introduced in 2022-23 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with a budget of Rs 4,800 crore for 2022-26, VVP covers villages in 46 blocks across 19 districts, including Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh
It aims to develop 2,963 villages, with 663 prioritised in the first phase. Further, Village-specific action plans are formulated by district administrations in coordination with Gram Panchayats.
