New Delhi, July 27: A 21-year-old participant from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands emerged among the young voices interacting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ‘Viksit Vibrant Village’ programme, highlighting her experience in Ladakh’s border region as the Prime Minister underscored the role of youth in strengthening India’s frontier villages and advancing the vision of a developed nation.
The interaction formed part of the ‘Viksit Vibrant Village’ programme, implemented through MY Bharat, which brought together more than 400 young participants from over 250 districts across the country. The initiative has been conceptualised to realise the Prime Minister’s vision of treating India’s border villages as the nation’s first villages and making them active partners in the journey towards ‘Viksit Bharat’.
Among the participants, 21-year-old Sayontika from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands shared her experience of visiting Man Village in Ladakh. She told the Prime Minister that the drastic change in altitude posed an initial health challenge during her visit.
Sayontika said the climatic conditions initially affected her health and expressed gratitude to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) battalion, including its doctors, for prioritising the care of civilians over their own personnel. She also said she was pleasantly surprised to find that UPI payment facilities were available in the remote border village, reflecting the reach of digital infrastructure in the area.
Earlier in the interaction, law student Nikita from Dadra and Nagar Haveli described her visit to Changoo village in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district as a significant personal achievement. She said the villagers welcomed and cared for her like family.
The Prime Minister asked whether she had interacted with women panchayat leaders during her visit. Nikita replied that she had met women Pradhans who actively participated in farming, administration and household responsibilities.
Responding light-heartedly, the Prime Minister suggested she connect with the villagers through a video call and include her family, adding that “4G” connectivity must have reached the village as well.
Speaking to all participants, the Prime Minister described solo travel as a journey of discovering both the world and oneself. He remarked that although the participants had travelled alone, they were returning as one family. He also said their journeys reflected the growing confidence and self-belief among India’s young women and reiterated that every youth and daughter of the country should be empowered to move forward with confidence.
Another participant, Sunil Kumar Kela from Rajasthan, shared his experience of visiting Dhar Chango Uperla village in Himachal Pradesh. He said the warmth shown by residents reminded him of his home state and noted the sharp contrast in weather, from temperatures of around 50 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan to near-zero conditions in Himachal Pradesh.
Kela also observed that roads in the mountainous border village were better than those in Rajasthan and said villagers were using electricity generated through solar panels under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said young people across India’s border regions shared similar aspirations regardless of whether they belonged to Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh or the Northeast. He said that while these villages may appear geographically distant, they remain emotionally connected, adding that the government’s approach has shifted from viewing them as the country’s last villages to recognising them as its first. He asserted that communities once placed last in priority are now receiving primary attention.
