Imphal, March 28 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Manipur, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, announced on Saturday that 143 villages along the international border with Myanmar will be developed under the Vibrant Villages Programme–II. This initiative will prioritize infrastructure development, livelihood enhancement, and access to essential services.

Manipur has a 398-km-long unfenced border with Myanmar, making the advancement of these frontier regions both strategically and economically important.

The Chief Minister addressed attendees at a state-level workshop dedicated to the Vibrant Villages Programme–II in Imphal.

An official revealed that the workshop aimed to fortify the development of border villages and improve collaboration among various government departments and agencies.

Hosted by the state’s Planning Department, the session concentrated on strategic planning, implementation challenges, and inter-agency cooperation.

During his speech, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh characterized the Vibrant Villages Programme–II as a flagship program from the Union government, designed to transform villages situated along international borders.

He reiterated that this initiative aims to elevate infrastructure, amplify livelihoods, and guarantee access to basic services in remote areas.

Emphasizing Manipur's geopolitical significance, the Chief Minister highlighted the necessity of prioritizing border area development and expressed gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for including five districts—Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Ukhrul, Chandel, and Churachandpur—in the initiative.

Chief Minister Khemchand Singh confirmed that the 143 villages identified under this program will see improvements in infrastructure, connectivity, and government service delivery.

He stressed the need for timely and coordinated efforts, pointing out the crucial role of the Planning Department, district administrations, and security forces like the Assam Rifles.

Invoking the vision of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas", the Chief Minister stated that the program should ensure inclusive development for all communities.

He expressed hope that the workshop would enhance coordination and improve outcomes at the grassroots level.

Manipur Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel underscored the importance of detailed planning and close collaboration with border security forces.

He mentioned that a thorough gap analysis had been conducted to identify deficits in infrastructure and connectivity within border regions.

Goel pointed out key focus areas including road connectivity, expansion of telecom services with 4G under BharatNet, and electrification.

He emphasized the need for targeted efforts in districts like Churachandpur, Kamjong, Ukhrul, Chandel, and Tengnoupal.

The workshop was attended by Major General Gaurav Sharma, Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South), alongside senior state government officials, Deputy Commissioners from the five identified districts, sector commanders, and other stakeholders.

Those who could not attend in person participated via video conference.

In related developments, the Union government had previously approved the Vibrant Villages Programme–I (VVP-I) as a centrally sponsored scheme on February 15, 2023.

This program aimed at the comprehensive development of selected villages in 46 blocks across 19 districts in various states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Initially, 662 villages were earmarked for priority development.

Under VVP-I, 2,558 projects have been approved with a budget of Rs 3,431 crore by the Ministry of Home Affairs, alongside additional projects through collaboration with different Union Ministries and departments.

Following this, the Vibrant Villages Programme–II was launched on April 2, 2025, with an allocation nearing Rs 6,900 crore.

This program aims to develop 1,954 villages across 334 blocks in 15 states and two Union Territories.

These villages span regions such as Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The initiative includes various schemes aimed at enhancing security, saturating welfare programs, and improving connectivity, reinforcing the Union government's commitment to the holistic development of border regions.