ITANAGAR : Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Thursday chaired a marathon review meeting to assess the physical and financial progress of projects being implemented under the Rural Infrastructure
Development Fund (RIDF), North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DeVINE), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) Phases I and II.
Held at the Planning Conference Hall of the Civil Secretariat, the meeting was attended by heads of executing agencies, deputy commissioners through virtual mode and senior officials from various departments. Discussions centred on project implementation, fund utilisation, inter-departmental coordination and measures to ensure timely completion of development works across the state.
Addressing the meeting, Mein said infrastructure development remains central to the government’s vision of inclusive and sustainable growth. He directed all executing agencies and district administrations to strengthen monitoring mechanisms, adhere to project timelines and maintain high standards of quality, transparency and accountability.
Highlighting the significance of the Vibrant Villages Programme, the Deputy Chief Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has redefined border villages as the country’s “first villages” instead of the “last villages”, with the objective of ensuring equitable development and improved opportunities for frontier communities.
He instructed all deputy commissioners to accord top priority to the implementation of schemes in border villages under the VVP and ensure their timely and effective execution. He also emphasised the involvement of elected local representatives while preparing development proposals so that projects reflect local needs and aspirations.
Mein further directed districts to expedite projects that are yet to commence, noting that timely utilisation of released funds is essential for securing subsequent instalments from the Ministry of Home Affairs. He reiterated that close coordination among departments and district administrations is crucial to ensure projects are completed within stipulated timelines and their benefits reach the public without delay.
The Planning Department also issued a series of directives to improve project execution and monitoring. Deputy commissioners were instructed to regularly monitor the VVP portal, promptly respond to observations on returned proposals and upload utilisation certificates and geo-tagged photographs on time to facilitate project monitoring and the release of subsequent instalments.
The department further directed that all project proposals strictly adhere to the operational guidelines, funding norms and permissible components of the respective Central schemes. Proposals should be prepared in consultation with the concerned line departments and undergo technical vetting and, wherever required, administrative approval before being uploaded to the VVP portal.
Taking note of operational issues such as frequent portal updates, data duplication, geo-tagging limitations and poor internet connectivity in remote areas, the meeting advised officials to maintain close coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs’ technical team for timely resolution of issues.
The Deputy Chief Minister also reviewed the implementation of key Budget Announcements 2026-27, following a similar review meeting held on Wednesday. He directed departments to accord the highest priority to the timely execution of budget announcements and expedite flagship initiatives, including the Chief Minister’s Rural Development Programme and the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Power Development Programme, while maintaining focus on education, healthcare, drinking water supply, connectivity and skill development.
He further instructed departments to submit revised guidelines wherever necessary, communicate fund requirements at the earliest and maintain close coordination with the Planning Department for the prompt resolution of implementation issues.
The meeting was attended by Planning Commissioner Sonam Chombay, Advisor to the Deputy Chief Minister Anupam Tangu, Adviser to the Planning and Investment Department R.K. Sharma and other senior officials.
