Shillong, Feb 23: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today told the Assembly that 92 Meghalaya villages along the international border with Bangladesh have been selected to receive developmental funds under Vibrant Village Programme 2 (VVP2).
Sangma said that these villages have been identified by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as part of a national initiative.
He also informed that Border Area Development Minister Brening A Sangma recently met Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss VVP2.
The CM informed that the state has not been given the exact budget of how much will be spent on each project.
Sangma also said that the state government is, from time to time, sanctioned funds for various kinds of projects along both the international and inter-state borders. “But there are no specific programmes. There are many other schemes under various departments which do projects as and when it is required,” he told the house.
Sangma also said that the Border Area Development Programme was discontinued in September 2022 and the Centre replaced it with the VVP.
When told by Mawsynram MLA Ollan Singh Suin that local legislators are not consulted before implementing programmes on the international border, Sangma said that, as per official guidelines, a committee has to be formed at the district level and MLAs are not included.
However, the CM informed that at the unofficial and political level MLAs will definitely be consulted but the final decision rests with the central government.
The Centre is also looking to give support to border villages in four areas – all weather road connectivity, 4G telecom services, TV connection and on grid electrification. Apart from this, the central government is looking at education infrastructure, empowerment of youth and skill development, financial inclusion, livelihood generation, health facilities and promotion of tourism and culture, Sangma added.
