New Delhi [India]: In a significant push towards bolstering India’s border development strategy, the Union Cabinet on Friday approved the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP-II). The initiative aims to enhance living conditions and livelihood opportunities in strategic villages located along India’s international land borders.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the move, calling it “exceptional news” for improving the quality of life in border villages.
“The Cabinet decision on Vibrant Villages Programme-II is exceptional news for ensuring a better quality of life for our border villages. With this approval, we are also expanding the scope of the villages covered compared to Vibrant Villages Programme-I,” PM Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter).
💰 Rs 6,839 Crore Allocated for VVP-II Till 2028-29
With an outlay of ₹6,839 crore, VVP-II will be implemented across strategic villages in 17 states and Union Territories until FY 2028-29. These include:
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir (UT), Ladakh (UT), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
This second phase extends coverage beyond the northern borders, which were the primary focus under VVP-I.
🌄 Objectives: Prosperous Borders, Safer Nation
The overarching goal of VVP-II is to ensure prosperous, secure, and inclusive border regions. Key objectives include:
- Creating better living conditions and livelihood opportunities
- Curbing trans-border crimes
- Strengthening community integration with national security by involving locals as the “eyes and ears” of border forces
🛠️ Focus Areas & Activities
The programme will fund:
- Infrastructure development within and across village clusters
- Value chain development through SHGs and cooperatives
- Border-specific outreach and educational infrastructure, including SMART classrooms
- Tourism circuit development, heritage promotion, and village-level events
A collaborative Village Action Plan will be developed for each area, tailored to local needs and strategic importance.
🎉 Reviving Culture & Tourism
The programme emphasizes enhancing vibrancy through:
- Cultural festivals, national day celebrations, awareness camps
- Ministerial visits and night-stays by government officials
- Promotion of local arts, traditions, and rural tourism
📡 Leveraging Technology
To ensure effective implementation, the programme will utilize platforms like PM Gati Shakti for infrastructure planning and coordination.
🇮🇳 A Step Towards Empowered Border Communities
VVP-II is expected to not only strengthen India’s border security through community participation but also open up new avenues of economic, educational, and cultural empowerment for border villagers—turning remote outposts into vibrant, connected communities.