Prime Minister Modi stated that the meeting will discuss the development of villages. The government will expand the number of villages in the second phase of this scheme to strengthen border security.
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) on April 5th. Its aim is to ensure holistic development in villages along India's international borders, thereby enriching and securing these frontiers. Further, significant decisions related to rural development are anticipated at the next Cabinet meeting scheduled for April 9th.
What PM Modi Said?
Sharing information on the social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi wrote: “The Cabinet’s decision on Vibrant Villages Programme-II is exceptional news for ensuring a better standard of living for our border villages. We are now including more villages in this scheme compared to the first phase.”
Which States Will Benefit?
This program, with a total cost of ₹6,839 crore, will be implemented in select strategic villages across 17 states and union territories by 2028-29. These include: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Key Objectives of Vibrant Villages Programme-II
- Ensuring a prosperous and secure environment on international borders.
- Preventing cross-border crimes and strengthening internal security in border areas.
- Connecting border citizens with the nation and developing them as the “eyes and ears of the border security forces.”
- Creating local employment and livelihood opportunities for youth.
What Will the Villages Receive?
Under this program, funding and development support will be provided within the following areas for villages or groups of villages:
- Development of basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water supply, and mobile connectivity.
- Establishment of value addition units like SHGs and cooperatives.
- Smart classes and educational resources for schools.
- Development of tourism circuits and cultural heritage sites.
- Village-specific and border-specific schemes based on the unique needs of the villages.
A Coordinated Strategy
This scheme will be implemented through collaboration between state, central, and local administrations. Village Action Plans will be prepared for each village, taking into account ground realities.
