Union Home Minister Amit Shah to visit Arunachal Pradesh to launch ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ in Kibithoo on April 10.

The Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Arunachal Pradesh on April 10-11, 2023, stated an official press release.

This comes after the recent announcement of the renaming of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh by China.

According to the release, on the first day of the Union Minister's visit, he will launch the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ in Kibithoo, a border village in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh on April 10, 2023.

The Government of India has approved the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ (VVP) by allocating a fund of Rs.4800 crore including Rs.2500 crore for the Financial Years 2022-23 to 2025-26 for road connectivity.

VVP is a centrally sponsored scheme under which 2967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts abutting the northern border in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand & Himachal Pradesh and UT of Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development.

In the first phase, 662 villages have been identified for priority on coverage, which includes 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Vibrant Villages Programme claims to improve the quality of life of people living in identified border villages and encourage people to stay in their native locations thereby reversing the outmigration from these villages and adding to the security of the border.

The District Administration with the help of appropriate mechanisms at block and panchayat level will prepare Action Plans for identified village to ensure 100% saturation of central and state schemes.

The focus areas of interventions identified for development of villages include road connectivity, drinking water, electricity including solar and wind energy, mobile and internet connectivity, tourist centers, multi-purpose centers and healthcare infrastructure and wellness centers. 

Secondly, on the same day, the Union Minister will inaugurate nine Micro Hydel Projects of Arunachal Pradesh government constructed under the “Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme” in Kibithoo.

These electricity projects claim to empower people living in border villages.

Shah will then inaugurate Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) projects to augment infrastructure at Likabali (Arunachal Pradesh), Chapra (Bihar), Nooranad (Kerala) and Vishakapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

According to the release, Union Home Minister will later interact with ITBP personnel at Kibithoo.

An exhibition of the products made by women members of Self-Help Groups of border districts will also be organized.

Shah will is expected to visit these exhibition stalls to acquaint with and appreciate the efforts of women of border villages.

And on April 11, 2023, the next day, the Union Home Minister who is also the Minister of Cooperation will visit Namti field and pay homage at the Walong War Memorial.