Explained: India’s Rs 6,839 Crore Vibrant Villages Programme-II To Boost Border Security In 17 States And UTs

In a major push for border area development and national integration, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) as a central sector scheme, fully funded by the Centre with an outlay of Rs 6,839 crore.

The scheme is part of the broader Viksit Bharat@2047 vision to secure India’s land borders through sustainable and inclusive development.

What is Vibrant Villages Programme-II?

VVP-II is a continuation and expansion of the first phase (VVP-I), which was approved in February 2023 with focus on the northern borders.

The new phase targets strategic villages along international land borders (ILBs) in 17 states and union territories. These include:

• Northeast: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura

• North and Northwest: Jammu & Kashmir (UT), Ladakh (UT), Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh

• East: Bihar, West Bengal

• West: Gujarat

The scheme will run until FY 2028-29.

Key Objectives

1. National Security Through Integration: The scheme aims to integrate border populations as active participants in national security by making them “eyes and ears” of the border guarding forces.

2. Comprehensive Development: Improve living conditions and create livelihood opportunities to reduce migration and foster sustainable development in sensitive border areas.

3. Crime Control: Reduce cross-border crime through better community engagement and monitoring.

What's Being Funded?

The government plans to fund a wide range of projects at the village or cluster level:

• Infrastructure: Building critical infrastructure for connectivity, education (like SMART classrooms), and local amenities.

• Livelihoods: Support for value chains through cooperatives and self-help groups (SHGs), along with tourism circuit development.

• Cultural Vibrancy: Promotion of local culture via fairs, national day celebrations, ministerial visits, and community events.

• Convergence of Schemes: The programme seeks to saturate all border villages with services under existing welfare schemes through convergence in four thematic areas:

  • All-weather road connectivity

  • Telecom connectivity

  • Television access

  • Electrification

Implementation Model

• Village Action Plans: Tailored to the unique needs of each state, district, and village, these plans will be prepared in a collaborative approach.

• PMGSY-IV Linkage: Road connectivity will be taken up under the ongoing PMGSY-IV programme under the Ministry of Rural Development.

• High-Level Oversight: A High-Powered Committee led by the Cabinet Secretary will allow flexibility in guidelines for better implementation in remote areas.

• Tech Enablement: Platforms like PM Gati Shakti will be used to monitor progress and resource planning.

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