PM Modi Interacts with 5,000 MY Bharat Volunteers, Highlights Transformation of Border Villages

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday virtually interacted with more than 5,000 MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat) volunteers who participated in the Viksit Vibrant Village Programme (VVVP) 2026, commending their efforts to connect with India's border communities and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat.

The interaction brought together volunteers from 245 districts across the country who had spent time in border villages across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, gaining first-hand experience of life in frontier regions. MY Bharat, established under the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, serves as a national platform to encourage youth participation in nation-building.

One of the participants, Ashish Soni, a civil services aspirant from Badlapur block in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur district, shared his experiences from Kaza Khas in Himachal Pradesh's Spiti region. He thanked the Prime Minister for giving young people an opportunity to contribute suggestions during the Union Budget-making process, saying the initiative inspired him to play a more active role in national development.

Soni recalled how his parents, who remembered a time when mobile connectivity in remote areas was nearly impossible, were astonished when he made a video call from an altitude of nearly 14,000 feet. He also highlighted the availability of QR-code-based digital payments at around 14,500 feet, describing it as a clear example of the success of Digital India in even the country's most remote locations.

Calling MY Bharat a bridge between a generation that witnessed hardship and another witnessing rapid transformation, Soni spoke about writing letters from Hikkim, home to the world's highest post office, to the Prime Minister, his family, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Defence Minister, and his district magistrate. He said these experiences demonstrated that India is connected not only through metros and airports but also through institutions serving its farthest regions.

He further shared how interactions with women's self-help groups introduced him to entrepreneurship through homestays, digital platforms, and sea buckthorn-based products. Discussions on the PM MUDRA Yojana and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana also highlighted expanding livelihood opportunities in border villages.

Soni also praised the Border Roads Organisation-built Chicham Bridge for significantly improving connectivity, boosting tourism and local economic activity, while noting the region's immense potential for night tourism.

During the interaction, Prime Minister Modi praised the volunteers for strengthening the bond between young Indians and border communities. He reiterated that border villages are the nation's " first villages " and encouraged citizens to support local economies by purchasing products made in these regions, reinforcing the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat and inclusive national development.