The Viksit Vibrant Villages Programme is set to roll out from 15 to 30 May 2025, aiming to breathe new life into India’s remote border regions. This joint effort, led by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports along with the Ministry of Home Affairs, will focus on the border areas of Leh-Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Local governance bodies and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will also play an active role in the project’s implementation.
The programme is designed to place young citizens at the heart of development efforts. A group of 500 MY Bharat youth volunteers, selected from across India, will work directly with communities in 100 specially chosen villages. These volunteers will drive local initiatives, focusing on education, healthcare, cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, skill-building, and youth leadership.
Registrations for the programme opened on 23 April 2025 through the MY Bharat Portal. Volunteers are being selected with a clear structure: 10 from the Union Territories and 15 from each participating state. These 500 volunteers will form the backbone of the initiative, leading activities on the ground.
Throughout the seven-day programme, each day will spotlight a different aspect of community development. Activities will range from healthcare awareness campaigns and environmental best practices to cultural promotion, fitness events like sports and yoga, career counselling, and creative sessions including open mics and essay competitions.
A key focus will be knowledge sharing, with young volunteers documenting the traditions, challenges, and strengths of the border communities. These experiences will be amplified through digital platforms, public discussions, and institutional forums, ensuring the stories of India’s frontier residents reach a wider audience.
The initiative is not just about observing. It actively encourages youth to bring fresh ideas into areas like education, sustainable farming, entrepreneurship, and governance. This two-way exchange is expected to strengthen national unity and reposition border villages as vibrant centres of culture and innovation.
The broader vision behind the Viksit Vibrant Villages Programme is to change the perception of these communities from being seen as ‘the last villages’ to ‘the first villages’ of India’s development journey towards 2047. By showcasing local languages, art, architecture, and heritage, the programme seeks to create a new identity based on pride and possibility.
To prepare for their mission, selected volunteers will attend a detailed orientation programme in Delhi. This training will equip them with the skills to work effectively with village communities and help them build leadership qualities that will benefit them long after the programme concludes.
The Viksit Vibrant Villages Programme aims to spark a lasting change, ensuring that development reaches every corner of the country, with the youth leading the way.
