Amit Shah Launches ₹6,900-Crore Border Village Programme

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched the second phase of the Vibrant Village Programme in Assam, marking a major push to strengthen infrastructure and livelihoods in border regions. The initiative focuses on transforming villages along the Bangladesh border into centres of development, aligning them with national growth standards. The programme was inaugurated at Natanpur village in the Barak Valley region.

The move reflects the Centre’s broader strategy to ensure that border villages are not treated as peripheral settlements but as priority areas for infrastructure and socio-economic progress.

Focus on Border Infrastructure

The Vibrant Village Programme-II aims to develop 334 blocks and 1,954 villages across 17 states with a total allocation of ₹6,900 crore. In Assam alone, nine districts, 26 blocks and 140 villages have been included under the scheme. These villages are located along the sensitive India-Bangladesh border.

The government intends to upgrade road connectivity, telecommunications, electricity supply, sanitation and drinking water facilities. The objective is to ensure that residents of border villages receive amenities comparable to those available in any other part of the country.

Education and Employment Emphasis

A key feature of the programme is its focus on education and employment generation. Border villages will be equipped with improved school infrastructure, digital connectivity and skill development facilities. The initiative also seeks to create local employment opportunities to reduce migration and strengthen economic stability.

By enhancing connectivity and economic prospects, the government aims to integrate border communities more closely with mainstream development processes.

Strategic and Social Significance

The programme carries both developmental and strategic importance. Strengthening border villages is seen as vital for national security, demographic stability and socio-economic resilience. The approach seeks to transform what were once described as “last villages” into “first villages” in terms of development indicators.

Important Facts for Exams

• Vibrant Village Programme-II covers 1,954 villages in 17 states.
• ₹6,900 crore allocated under the second phase.
• 140 villages in Assam along the Bangladesh border included.
• Focus areas include roads, telecom, sanitation, education and employment.

Implementation in Assam’s Barak Valley

Natanpur in Barak Valley is among the first villages under the new phase. The region’s inclusion underscores the government’s emphasis on the eastern frontier. Authorities aim to ensure comprehensive development across nine districts of Assam under the scheme, reinforcing both infrastructure growth and community welfare in border areas.