Context:The Union Cabinet has approved phase two of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) for the comprehensive development of strategic villages along all international land borders, with a total outlay of ?6,839 crore.

Meaning of the context: While VVP-I was aimed at villages along the China border, the second phase of the programme will 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, until the financial year 2028-29.

Learn More:

• The Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) phase 1 was a centrally sponsored scheme launched by the Government of India in 2023 to develop border villages with sparse population, limited connectivity, and infrastructure.
• Vibrant Villages Programme -II (VVP-II) is a Central Sector Scheme (100% Centre funding), 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.
• 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.
• The interventions would be border-specific, state and village specific, based on Village Action Plans prepared in a collaborative approach.

Key Components:

• Infrastructure Development: Roads, housing, water supply, electricity, internet, and mobile connectivity.
• Social Development: Healthcare, education, skill development, and livelihood opportunities.
• Tourism and Cultural Promotion: Promoting local culture, traditions, and eco-tourism.
• Security Dimension: Enhances eyes and ears on the border — discouraging migration and boosting strategic presence.
• Convergence Model: Coordination among multiple central and state schemes like PMGSY, Jal Jeevan Mission, PMAY-G.

Source : The Hindu