The Union Cabinet has approved the second phase of Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP), which envisages comprehensive development of select villages located along international borders. “The Cabinet approved the Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) as a central sector scheme with 100% funding by the Centre, furthering its commitment for the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 for ‘Safe, Secured & Vibrant land borders’. The programme would help in the comprehensive development of the villages located in the blocks abutting international land borders (ILBs), other than the northern border already covered under VVP-I,” an official statement said. In a post on X, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “The Vibrant Villages Programme has been a game-changing medium to transform our border villages into the nerve centers of growth and development. Advancing the vision further, the Modi govt has today approved the Vibrant Villages Programme-2 with a total outlay of Rs 6,839 crore.” “The objective of the programme is to create better living conditions and adequate livelihood opportunities to ensure prosperous and safe borders, control trans-border crime and assimilate the border population with the nation and inculcate them 'as eyes and ears of the border guarding forces', crucial for internal security,” it said. “With a total outlay of Rs 6,839 crore, the programme shall be implemented in select strategic villages in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal till 2028-29,” the statement said.
