Youth volunteers begin border outreach mission
In a significant initiative aimed at transforming border areas into centres of development and public participation, the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme-2026 commenced from Kinnaur on Wednesday, with 63 youth volunteers set to work in 13 border villages over the next seven days.
The programme has been launched by Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The second phase was flagged off from the ITBP Base Camp at Reckong Peo in Kinnaur district.
The initiative seeks to accelerate the holistic development of border regions, encourage youth participation in nation-building and strengthen engagement with border communities. It forms part of the Government of India’s broader vision of developing border villages as centres of growth, opportunity and self-reliance rather than merely strategic locations. In this phase, 63 participants from various states across the country have been divided into six clusters and assigned to 13 border villages in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts.
During their week-long stay, the volunteers will live among local communities and undertake a range
of social, cultural and awareness activities.
The participants were flagged off by Deputy Commandant Virendra Singh of the 17th Battalion of the ITBP.
“Border villages are a vital pillar of the nation’s identity and security. Youth participation brings fresh energy, innovation and social dynamism to these areas,” he said, urging the volunteers to work with a spirit of national unity, service and community leadership.
Prior to their deployment, the participants underwent a three-day acclimatisation programme at the ITBP Base Camp in Reckong Peo. The training included health check-ups, physical conditioning, safety protocols, familiarisation with local culture and traditions and orientation for working in high-altitude Himalayan conditions. Interactive sessions with ITBP officers were also conducted to prepare the volunteers for their assignments.
During their stay in the villages, the participants will organise cleanliness drives, sports and youth engagement activities, cultural exchange programmes, interactions with school students and local residents, awareness campaigns on government schemes and various community development initiatives.
Officials said the activities are expected to promote trust, collaboration and mutual learning between youth volunteers and residents of remote border villages. The Vibrant Villages Programme is increasingly emerging as an important platform for connecting young people with India’s frontier regions, providing them with an opportunity to understand border life, appreciate local cultures and contribute meaningfully to the nation-building process.
