India, Feb. 22 -- The Centre has expanded the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) to villages along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam under its second phase, at a time when concerns over illegal infiltration and demographic changes continue to dominate political discussions in the state.

The programme, which was earlier focused on the northern frontier, has now been extended to strategically important villages in Assam. The move comes amid persistent anxieties about cross-border infiltration and security vulnerabilities. Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent visit to a remote village in Assam underlined the government's attempt to combine development initiatives with national security priorities. At the same time, border forces have indi...