India's Borders Strengthened, Affirms PM; Highlights 'Vibrant Villages' Programme For China Frontier

Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the occasion of the Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India’s borders have become stronger and more secure.

“Our borders have become more secure today, and the jawans guarding the borders and the uniformed forces ensuring our internal security, I congratulate them on Independence Day," Modi said.

He also pointed out that constant reforms are underway to modernise the forces, and efforts are ongoing to make the forces young and battle-ready, referring to the Agnipath scheme.

"To modernise the armed forces and make them young and battle-ready, we are implementing constant reforms," he said.

He mentioned that the internal security of the country has improved. The era of serial bombings has passed. With a sense of security, people can focus on fulfilling their growth aspirations.

Modi stated, "We often used to hear about bombs being found here or there, warnings of not to touch certain bags were everywhere... Today, the country feels more secure, and when there is security, people can fulfill their aspirations for growth."

He also highlighted the border villages, underscoring the Vibrant Village border programme along the China frontier.

Modi noted that these border villages are the foremost villages of India, rather than being the last villages along the border as commonly perceived.

“We have initiated a programme called Vibrant Village for the border villages. Until now, these villages used to be referred to as the last villages along the border. We have shifted this perspective, and now they are not the last villages but the first," he said.

Modi further emphasised, "just as the sun rises in the east, these border villages receive the first light, and as the sun sets, these villages receive its final rays.”

He also expressed his delight for the sarpanchs of the 662 border villages who were invited to be part of the Independence Day celebrations.

Modi remarked, "I am pleased that the sarpanchs of these villages have come to be part of the celebrations at the Red Fort.”

The sarpanchs hail from villages situated in the border states and Union Territories of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh — regions that hold strategic significance along the China-India border.

The Vibrant Villages programme, introduced in the wake of the 2022 budget, was conceived as a countermeasure to China's ambitious “well-off border villages programme”.

The programme spans 2,967 villages across 46 blocks in 19 districts, with 662 villages identified for the initial phase. This calculated approach is designed to enhance the quality of life for residents and assert India's unwavering territorial sovereignty.