Liben N., an NSS volunteer of the 5th Semester from Baptist College, Kohima, Nagaland, participated in the Viksit Vibrant Village Programme (VVVP) 2026 – Phase II, held from 14th to 23rd June, 2026, Organized by Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, in collaboration with the 17th Battalion, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Reckong Peo, Himachal Pradesh. The programme brought together 63 youth participants from different States and Union Territories, who were deployed to 13 border villages for a seven-day field immersion promoting national integration, community engagement, and sustainable development. Nagaland was represented by eight participants, who were assigned to Gue and Lalung Khas villages. During the programme, participants conducted village surveys, school interaction sessions, Gram Sabha meetings, and awareness campaigns on cleanliness and single-use plastic. They visited Gue Monastery (home to the 500-year-old naturally preserved Buddhist mummy), Komic Monastery, Hikkim, Kaza, and Langza Village. They also visited Lepcha and ITBP forward posts, where personnel briefed them on the India–Tibet border, its strategic importance, and the challenges of guarding remote high-altitude frontiers, besides witnessing demonstrations of military equipment and border management. The participants observed International Yoga Day with ITBP personnel and took part in cultural exchange programmes showcasing the traditions and cuisines of different states. The programme offered valuable exposure to the socio-economic realities of border villages while strengthening leadership, patriotism, cultural harmony, and the vision of Viksit Bharat through meaningful community engagement.
