Centre aims to empower youth with self-confidence, self-reliance: PM Modi during interaction with 'Vibrant Village' participants
New Delhi, July 26
While interacting with the participants of the Viksit Vibrant Village Programme 2026 via video conferencing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday underlined that the centre aims to empower every single youth to move ahead with self-confidence and self-reliance.
Addressing the participants, PM Modi highlighted the importance of solo travelling, saying it provides an opportunity for individuals to discover themselves while exploring the country.
"Solo travel is a major trend these days; it is a way to discover the world by discovering oneself. You, too, set out alone, but the journey across India turned everyone into family. You undertook the entire trip solo: a testament to the growing self-confidence of India's daughters. Our aim is to ensure that every young person and daughter move forward with trust and self-confidence," he said.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Viksit Vibrant Village Programme, implemented through MY Bharat, has been conceptualised to realise the Prime Minister's vision of treating India's border villages as the first villages of the nation and making them active partners in the journey towards Viksit Bharat.
The Viksit Vibrant Village Programme 2026 was organised in two phases from June 4 to June 30, covering 74 vibrant villages across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Over 400 youth participants, representing every State and Union Territory, were selected through a nationwide online quiz competition that witnessed participation from more than three lakh youth, the statement added.
As part of the programme, participants lived with local communities and undertook activities such as Swachhta drives, awareness campaigns on Government schemes, Yuva Sammelans, cultural exchange programmes, tree plantation drives, Mini Model Panchayat simulations, interactions with local artisans and visits to institutions of strategic importance.
The programme provided participants with first-hand exposure to the socio-economic landscape, cultural heritage and developmental aspirations of India's frontier regions, while fostering community participation, national integration and a deeper understanding of the strategic importance of border villages, the statement said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
PM Modi's emphasis on 'self-confidence' and 'self-reliance' for youth is exactly what our education system has been missing. We're always taught to follow paths, not create new ones. This village program plus the solo travel angle - it's innovative. But I wish they'd also focus on mental health support for youth during such transformative experiences. Still, a commendable step forward. Jai Hind! ✨
Over 3 lakh youth participating in the quiz competition and only 400 selected? That's a 0.13% selection rate! The idea is great but we need to scale this up massively. Our border villages need sustained engagement, not just one-time programs. Still, kudos to the team for organizing this across 74 villages in remote areas - logistics must have been challenging.
As a former NCC cadet, I know the value of staying in border areas. The Mini Model Panchayat simulations and interactions with local artisans are smart additions - it's not just tourism but real civic engagement. But I worry about safety for solo female travelers. The PM mentioned 'daughters of India' but we need concrete measures - emergency helplines, safe hostels, trained local guides. Otherwise it's just rhetoric.
Viksit Bharat can't be achieved without our border villages being 'Vibrant'. I appreciate the cultural exchange aspect - urban youth learning from local communities and vice versa. The tree plantation drives are also timely given climate change concerns. My cousin was part of the Uttarakhand phase and said the hospitality of the villagers was unmatched. This is how you build national integration - not just through textbooks! 🌿🏔️
M We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.