ITANAGAR, Apr 21: A workshop on the Vibrant Village Programme-II (VVP-II) was held on Tuesday at Pare Hall of DK Convention Centre here, bringing together key stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for effective implementation of the ambitious border area development initiative.
Attending the programme, Commissioner of the Planning & Investment Department, RK Sharma, in his address, underscored that the central objective of VVP-II is to curb migration from border villages by strengthening economic opportunities and improving social infrastructure. He noted that the programme builds upon the success of its earlier phase and has now expanded its coverage to include both Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Myanmar border districts.
Highlighting the broader vision, Sharma stated that VVP-II seeks to transform remote border villages into vibrant and self-reliant communities. He emphasized the importance of promoting local culture and tribal festivals, ensuring regular field visits by government officials, and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities to enhance the quality of life in these regions.
Director (Project Coordination), Ponung Boring, in her welcome address, briefed participants on the scope and framework of the programme. She informed that VVP-II was launched by the Union Home Minister on February 20, 2026, in Assam’s Cachar district.
In Arunachal Pradesh, the programme covers 122 identified villages across five districts—Changlang, Longding, and Tirap along the Indo-Myanmar border, and Tawang and West Kameng along the Indo-Bhutan border.
She further highlighted that the programme places strong emphasis on decentralized, micro-level planning, with Deputy Commissioners designated as key implementing authorities to ensure effective coordination and monitoring at the district level.
A key feature of the workshop was a technical session conducted by Pradeep Pandey, Deputy Commandant from the Department of Border Management under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Along with his team, he demonstrated the functionalities of the VVP-II mobile application and online portal, providing hands-on guidance to participants on data entry, monitoring mechanisms, and reporting tools. Deputy Commissioners from Tirap, Changlang, Tawang, Longding, and West Kameng actively engaged in the session.
Senior officers from border guarding forces, including the DIG of Sashastra Seema Bal (Tezpur) and a representative from the Assam Rifles, also shared their perspectives, stressing the importance of coordinated efforts in ensuring security and development in border areas.
The workshop witnessed active participation from District Planning Officers (DPOs), Block Development Officers (BDOs), and representatives of various state departments, reflecting a multi-stakeholder approach to the programme’s implementation.
The event concluded with a collective reaffirmation of commitment by all stakeholders to work in close coordination to ensure the timely and effective execution of the VVP-II.