By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 12: The Centre has identified Sohbar, a scenic border village in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills, as a key focus area under the expanded Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP), aimed at transforming India’s frontier regions into hubs of development. During her visit to the village on Saturday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that Sohbar would receive priority infrastructure and service upgrades as part of the second phase of the programme.
Sitharaman, the first Union Minister to visit Sohbar, underlined the government’s commitment to ensuring that border villages are not left behind. Emphasising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, she said such villages are “not the end of India, but its beginning” and should be seen as the eyes and ears of the nation.
Outlining the development plan, the Minister highlighted four core areas of intervention under the VVP — road infrastructure, digital and telecom connectivity, television coverage, and electricity access. She assured that basic services such as banking, education, and primary health care would be made available within a 5 km radius, covering all 1,600-plus residents of the village. The Minister also acknowledged Sohbar’s tourism potential, praising the Meghalaya government’s plans to develop the area into a tourism hub with externally aided assistance, including support from the New Development Bank (NDB). She said tourism infrastructure would help generate income and stimulate the local economy.
During her interaction with local youth, Sitharaman commended the strong presence of girl students and stressed the importance of digital tools, educational advancement, and artisan support. She said border youth should be able to thrive locally and access global markets without being forced to migrate.
Calling it “unbelievable” that no Union Minister had visited Sohbar before, she described the village as a rain sanctuary and a vibrant community. She urged residents to stay connected with the government to ensure that their needs are addressed effectively.