The Union Cabinet has approved phase two of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) for the comprehensive development of strategic villages along all international land borders.
Key Highlights of Vibrant Villages Programme-II:
- Total Outlay: ₹6,839 crore
- Implementation Timeline: Until FY 2028-29
- Funding Model: 100% Central Sector Scheme (entirely funded by the Union government)
- States & UTs Covered (18):
- Phase I of VVP focused solely on border villages along the China frontier.
- Phase II broadens this to include borders with:
- Pakistan (Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, J&K)
- Nepal (Bihar, UP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim)
- Bangladesh (WB, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram)
- Myanmar (Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram)
Objectives of VVP-II
- Enhance border security through development:
- Assimilate border populations into the national mainstream
- Encourage them to act as “eyes and ears” of border guarding forces
- Strengthen rural infrastructure and services:
- Roads, health centers, schools (including SMART classrooms)
- Access to clean water, renewable energy, and mobile/internet connectivity
- Foster local economic resilience:
- Promote livelihood diversification
- Support cooperatives, SHGs, and local entrepreneurship
- Invest in value chain development for agriculture, handicrafts, etc.
- Develop border tourism circuits:
- Highlight scenic, cultural, and eco-tourism potential of frontier villages
- Curb trans-border crime:
- A better-connected, economically stable population helps reduce illegal activities and improves internal security.
Supporting Infrastructure via Other Schemes
- All-weather roads to be built under PMGSY-IV (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana), administered by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).
- Special relaxation of implementation guidelines will be handled by a high-powered committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, allowing flexibility in these challenging terrains.
Wider Impact
- Population retention: Discourages outmigration from remote villages
- Nation-building: Builds a sense of belonging and participation in development
- Counterweight to Chinese infrastructure push in border regions like Tibet
(Source: PIB)
