The Union Cabinet has approved the Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) as a Central Sector Scheme with 100% Central funding. This scheme aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 for “Safe, Secured & Vibrant Land Borders”, focusing on the comprehensive development of villages near international land borders (ILBs) not covered under VVP-I (Northern Borders).
About Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II)
- Total Outlay: Rs 6,839 crore
- Implementation Period: Till FY 2028-29
- Coverage: Select villages in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, J&K (UT), Ladakh (UT), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Objectives of VVP-II
- Create better living conditions and livelihood opportunities in strategic border villages
- Ensure prosperous and secure borders
- Help in trans-border crime control
- Integrate border populations with the national mainstream
- Position locals as “eyes and ears” of border security forces
Key Interventions
- Village Infrastructure development (individual or cluster-based)
- Value chain development via cooperatives and SHGs
- Education infrastructure including SMART classes
- Tourism circuit development
- Sustainable livelihoods through local projects
- Border-specific outreach activities
Convergence & Connectivity
- Focus on saturation of individual/household welfare schemes
- Four thematic areas to be saturated:
- All-weather road connectivity (via PMGSY-IV)
- Telecom connectivity
- Television connectivity
- Electrification
- High-Powered Committee, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, to facilitate relaxations for effective implementation.
Additional Features
- Promotion of local culture through fairs, festivals, awareness camps, and National Day celebrations
- Visits and night stays by Ministers and senior officials
- Use of technology platforms like PM Gati Shakti for implementation planning