Shillong, July 11: A total of 92 villages in Meghalaya are set to become the “first villages of India” under the second phase of the Central government’s Vibrant Village Programme, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Friday.
These villages, located along the Bangladesh border, have been identified for focused development under the initiative aimed at strengthening infrastructure and connectivity in strategically important areas.
“The 92 villages from Meghalaya are becoming the first villages of India,” Sitharaman told reporters, highlighting their significance from both a developmental and strategic perspective.
The finance minister also said she would be visiting some of these border villages during her trip, expressing interest in directly interacting with the local communities.
Highlighting the broader scope of the initiative, Sitharaman noted that the Vibrant Village Programme is being implemented not just in Meghalaya, but also in villages along the international borders with Myanmar, Tibet, China, and Nepal.
When asked whether the government had discontinued the Border Area Development (BAD) programme, Sitharaman dismissed the suggestion. “I don’t think that is the case at all. Border area funds are continuously on. It is being managed jointly by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Defence Ministry,” she clarified.
She added that the Vibrant Village Programme adopts a more comprehensive and integrated approach compared to previous initiatives, focusing on the holistic development of border villages. This includes enhancing livelihood opportunities, improving road and digital connectivity, and ensuring access to quality education, healthcare, and essential services.
On the issue of inflation in the North East, Sitharaman attributed public concerns to outdated data, asserting that both the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and Retail Inflation have shown a downward trend across the country. This, she added, has allowed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to consider cutting interest rates an indicator that inflation is under control.
