Centre approves Rs 6,839 cr VVP-II for 1,954 border villages till FY29
New Delhi, August 12
The Central Government has approved the Vibrant Villages Programme-II as a Central Sector Scheme with a total outlay of Rs 6,839 crore till the financial year 2028-29 for the comprehensive development of 1,954 select villages located along India's international land borders.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, VVP-II was approved on April 2, 2025, and covers 1,954 villages in 334 blocks across 17 States and Union Territories.
The programme covers 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.
The initiative aims to address the unique and specific challenges faced by border villages through area-specific strategies and promote their comprehensive development.
The government had earlier approved Vibrant Villages Programme-I (VVP-I) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on February 15, 2023, for the comprehensive development of select villages in 46 blocks along the northern border in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand.
Under VVP-I, 2,906 projects have been sanctioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs and through convergence with various Central Ministries and Departments.
As part of the programme, Rs 959.66 crore has been released to the States and Union Territories concerned so far, the ministry said.
The Centre has also approved the constitution of a High-Powered Committee (HPC) headed by the Cabinet Secretary to facilitate effective implementation of VVP-II in border villages.
The committee includes the Home Secretary, Secretary (Border Management), Secretary (Expenditure) and the Secretary of the concerned Ministry or Department as members.
The HPC will undertake relaxations in the schematic guidelines of schemes of various ministries to facilitate their effective implementation in border villages under VVP-II.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The idea of Vibrant Villages is great, but I hope the implementation doesn't get stuck in bureaucratic delays. Releasing Rs 959 crore from VVP-I so far seems slow. We need to ensure the money actually reaches the ground and benefits the local people, not just stays on paper.
This is good, but why only 1,954 villages? There are many more border villages that need attention, especially in the Northeast and Jammu region. The more we develop these areas, the stronger our border security becomes. Need to expand this programme further.
Great initiative! Looking at the bigger picture, this will also help in stopping migration from border areas. When people have proper roads, hospitals, schools and internet connectivity, they won't feel the need to move to cities. My family is from a village near the Nepal border in UP, and development there is still lacking. Hopefully, this changes soon. 🙏
As someone who studies border security from an international perspective, I think India's approach here is quite strategic. Developing border villages not only improves the quality of life but also ensures better surveillance and control. The High-Powered Committee with the Cabinet Secretary heading it is a serious step. Good to see.
The VVP-I gave 2,906 projects, but have we actually seen the results? I'm not trying to be negative, but we often see big announcements and then slow implementation. Let's hope this time the targets are met properly. Also, need to focus on digital connectivity in these remote areas - that's the future.
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