Nathunpur, Assam | February 20, 2026: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Friday launched the ₹6,839 crore Vibrant Villages Programme–II (VVP–II) in Nathunpur village of Assam, marking a major push toward comprehensive development of India’s border villages.

The launch event was attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, senior officials, and local representatives.

“Border Villages Are India’s First Villages”

Addressing the gathering, Amit Shah said that earlier border villages were referred to as the “last villages” of the country due to lack of development, employment, connectivity, and education.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided that every village on the border is not the last village, but the first village of India,” he stated.

Under VVP–II, border villages will be equipped with facilities at par with other developed villages across the country, including:

• >> Road connectivity

• >> Telecommunication infrastructure

• >> Education facilities

• >> Employment opportunities

• >> Security infrastructure

Coverage Across 17 States

The Vibrant Villages Programme–II will cover:

• >> 334 blocks

• >> 1,954 villages

• >> 17 border states

• >> Nearly ₹7,000 crore total investment

In Assam alone:

• >> 9 districts

• >> 26 blocks

• >> 140 villages

Other states included in the programme are Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Major Development Claims

Amit Shah highlighted several developmental milestones in Assam over the past decade:

• >> 14 km of roads constructed per day in the last five years

• >> Over 24,000 km of roads upgraded

• >> Four major bridges built

• >> Multidimensional poverty reduced from 37% to 14% (2023)

• >> Per capita income increased from ₹49,000 (2013–14) to ₹1.54 lakh (2024–25)

He also stated that Assam has emerged as the healthcare hub of Northeast India and has attracted a ₹27,000 crore semiconductor plant investment.

Focus on Security and Economic Growth

Shah credited the Assam government for eliminating bomb blasts and insurgency in the state. He emphasized that VVP–II will help prevent border migration, curb infiltration, and strengthen national security.

“Secure Assam means secure India,” he said.

The minister also mentioned major central investments in the state:

• >> ₹30,000 crore for roads

• >> ₹95,000 crore for railways

• >> ₹10,000 crore for airports

Additionally, a lucrative industrial policy has been introduced to accelerate Assam’s economic transformation.

A Step Toward Developed Assam

According to Shah, the Vibrant Villages Programme–II will play a crucial role in bringing Assam into the category of developed states in the coming years.

The programme aims to ensure that border villages do not face migration pressures and that development reaches the last mile — strengthening both local prosperity and national security.