Patna: The Planning & Development Department of the Bihar government on Thursday held a one-day workshop in Patna to review and strengthen the implementation of the Vibrant Village Programme–II (VVP-II), with a focus on coordination, monitoring and field-level execution.
The workshop, hosted at the Directorate of Economics and Statistics conference hall, was chaired by N. Vijayalakshmi, additional chief secretary of the department, who described the programme as a “significant initiative” for the holistic and sustainable development of border regions.
She emphasised the need for coordinated efforts across departments, alongside data-driven monitoring and stronger supervision at the ground level to ensure timely delivery of outcomes.
- S. Anupam, special secretary in the home department, underlined the importance of inter-departmental coordination in border districts, noting that development efforts must be balanced with security considerations.
Highlighting the role of community engagement, Mukesh Kumar, deputy inspector general of the Sashastra Seema Bal, said development initiatives in border areas help build trust and encourage local participation.
Offering a national perspective, Manish Shrivastava, director (VVP) at the Ministry of Home Affairs, said the programme seeks to empower border villages through improved infrastructure, livelihoods and connectivity, adding that active involvement of states would be crucial to its success.
Technology and data systems also featured prominently in the discussions. Deepak Kumar, senior technical director at the National Informatics Centre, highlighted the role of digital monitoring, data management and IT-enabled solutions in ensuring effective implementation.
The workshop saw participation from district magistrates and officials from line departments across Bihar’s border districts — including West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnea and Saharsa — who joined via video conferencing. District planning officers and block development officers also took part.
Senior officials including Mayank Varavde, principal secretary of the department, Ravish Kishore, director of the Directorate of Evaluation, and Sujata Kumari, assistant nodal officer for VVP-II, were among those present.
The workshop featured multiple technical sessions on implementation, monitoring and evaluation, with participants sharing field experiences and suggestions aimed at improving outcomes in border regions.
