Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced Monday that 66 communities along the Indo-Myanmar border had been chosen for development through the Center’s Vibrant Communities Programme (VVP). These settlements, which are located in the districts of Tirap, Changlang, and Longding, are a part of the government’s effort to improve livelihoods and infrastructure in isolated border regions. Khandu explained the program on social media as an attempt at “last-mile development,” emphasizing the improvement of road connectivity, telecom services, electricity supply, livelihood opportunities, and skill development. The chief minister claims that 11 of the villages that were identified are in Tirap, 13 are in Longding, and 42 are in Changlang district.
According to the 2011 census, Wakka village in Longding is the most inhabited of the selected villages, home to about 2,000 people. Khanu in Longding, with 1,629 residents, and Gandhigram in Changlang, with 1,754 residents, follow. Old Potuk (41 inhabitants), Gaherigram (57), and Lungtung (71) are the least inhabited villages in Changlang. Old Bunting, Sanliam, Raho, Lazu, Noglo, Upper Chinhan, Lower Chinhan, Tutnyu, Lonyen, New Kothung, and Nogna are the villages chosen for the program in the Tirap region.
Longding’s list includes Wakka, Khanu, Chongkhow, Chop, Khogla, Kampong, Jagan, Khasa, Konnu, Konsa, Lower Pongchau, Pongchau, Pongchau HQ, and Votnu. The forty-two villages in Changlang district are dispersed among seven blocks: Vijoynagar, Khagam-Miao, Kantang, Khimiyong, Manmao, Nampong, and Yatdam. In order to encourage people to stay in these strategically significant border regions, officials stated that the VVP intends to fill crucial shortages in roads, telecom, housing, renewable energy, livelihood creation, tourism, and skill training.
