MHA Sanctions 1,022 Kilometers of Roads for Arunachal Pradesh, Announces CM Pema Khandu

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, currently on a two-day tour of Upper Siang district, revealed that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has given the green light to approximately 1,022 kilometers of roads for the state under the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP).

During a public meeting in Tuting, Chief Minister Khandu urged members of the five resident communities – Memba, Khamba, Adi, Mishmi, and Tangam – to coexist peacefully and actively participate as equal stakeholders in the development of border areas. Emphasizing the longstanding peaceful coexistence of these communities in the northernmost part of the district, which shares an international border with Tibet-China, Khandu stressed the importance of maintaining the relationship of brotherhood without any disturbances.

Upper Siang's Tuting administrative division, known for its vibrant and diverse population, was commended by Khandu for its unique cultural identity and peaceful coexistence. He informed the public that the Tuting area is slated for rapid transformation under the central government's ambitious flagship program, the 'Vibrant Village.'

Launched in 2023, the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme designed to facilitate comprehensive development in select villages across 46 blocks in 19 districts along the northern border of Arunachal Pradesh, including Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh. The program focuses on interventions such as livelihood generation through tourism promotion, skill development, and entrepreneurship, development of cooperative societies (including agriculture/horticulture and cultivation of medicinal plants/herbs), road connectivity to unconnected villages, housing and village infrastructures, energy (including renewable energy), and television and telecom connectivity.

Expressing gratitude to the Modi government, Chief Minister Khandu highlighted that Arunachal Pradesh has the highest number of border villages listed under the Vibrant Villages Programme.

ET