Arunachal to seek inclusion of villages at Myanmar and Bhutan borders in development scheme

Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein announced that the state will urge the Centre to expand the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) to include villages at the India-Myanmar and India-Bhutan borders.

The programme, which replaced the previous Border Area Development Programme (BADP), focuses solely on the state's northern border with China.

Responding to a query by Independent MLA Laisam Simai, Mein said the Home Ministry launched programme on April 10, 2023, and in the first phase, as many as 455 border villages across 11 districts of Arunachal Pradesh are being developed.

"The ministry has sanctioned a total of Rs 2,205 crore for the construction of 105 roads spanning 1,022 km, connecting 125 villages,” he said, adding that Rs 104.99 crore has been allocated for 187 developmental projects in 156 villages.

Mein admitted that several villages along the northern border remain excluded from the programme.

To address this, the state government has undertaken measures to incorporate these villages in various schemes under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), besides state-level initiatives.

Mein also shared that the Centre has sanctioned 22 connectivity projects and 212 other infrastructure projects in the state under the Northeast Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NSIDS).

Assuring the house of transparency in the execution of the Vibrant Village Programme, Mein emphasised that its implementation is progressing smoothly.

"We have received unwavering support from the Centre in our developmental journey," he said.