NEW DELHI, April 4: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday approved the Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) as a Central Sector Scheme aimed at the development of villages located along India’s international borders to enhance national security. With a total outlay of Rs 6,839 crore, the programme will be implemented in select strategic villages across the States and Union Territories of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir (UT), Ladakh (UT), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, and will continue until the financial year 2028–29.
The programme will be fully funded by the Central Government and focuses on comprehensive development of villages situated in border blocks, excluding those already covered under the Northern border-focused Vibrant Villages Programme-I.
According to an official statement, the initiative seeks to improve living conditions and provide adequate livelihood opportunities to ensure that borders remain safe and prosperous. It also aims to prevent trans-border crimes, foster a deeper connection between the border population and the nation, and integrate these residents as the “eyes and ears” of border guarding forces, which is essential for maintaining internal security.
VVP-II will fund infrastructure development within individual villages or clusters of villages, promote value chain development through cooperatives and self-help groups, and support border-specific outreach activities. It will also invest in the creation of educational infrastructure like SMART classes, the development of tourism circuits, and diverse livelihood opportunities tailored to the unique needs of border areas. The programme will follow a collaborative approach to planning, with Village Action Plans guiding the interventions, which will be designed to be specific to each village, state, and border situation.
To support better physical connectivity, all-weather roads for the identified villages will be developed under the already sanctioned Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana-IV (PMGSY-IV), managed by the Ministry of Rural Development. Additionally, a high-powered committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary will be authorized to consider and implement suitable relaxations in schematic guidelines to ensure effective execution of various schemes in the border regions.
The programme also aims to achieve saturation in delivering individual and household-level welfare schemes in these villages by leveraging convergence with existing scheme norms. It will focus on reaching complete coverage in four thematic areas: all-weather road connectivity, telecom connectivity, television access, and electrification.
In an effort to boost community engagement and cultural vibrancy, the programme will also support the organization of fairs, festivals, awareness camps, celebration of national events, and regular visits by central and state ministers and senior government officials, including night stays in the border villages. These efforts are expected to enhance the tourism potential and promote the rich local culture and heritage.
Technology will play a key role in the programme’s implementation. Information databases such as PM Gati Shakti will be utilized to enable seamless planning and execution, ensuring that the development efforts in border regions are data-driven and aligned with national infrastructure goals.
