Rapid Fire
Second Phase of Vibrant Village Programme
- 19 Feb 2026
- 2 min read
The Centre is set to launch the Second Phase of the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP), significantly expanding its strategic scope beyond the China border to now include 1,954 strategic villages along the borders with Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
- The VVP: It was launched in 2023, originally to assist development in villages along the China border.
- The VVP-II, a Central Sector Scheme (100% Centre funding), was cleared by the Union Cabinet in April 2025.
- States Covered Under VVP-II: The programme spans Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
- Financial Outlay: The VVP-II has a total outlay of Rs 6,839 crore to be implemented until FY 2028-29, with a proposed expenditure of Rs 3 crore per village.
- Strategic Objective: The programme aims to prevent the migration of border populations to urban areas, which creates a security vacuum and leads to demographic changes by creating sustainable livelihood opportunities.
- Role of Border Population: The initiative seeks to make local residents the "eyes and ears" of the Border Guarding Forces and wean them away from illicit activities and trans-border crimes.
- Comprehensive Development: The strategy involves the saturation of existing government schemes, strengthening basic infrastructure, and developing these villages as "growth centres" to ensure economic and cultural assimilation with the nation.
- Trust Building: The MHA emphasizes "culturally sensitive" outreach activities to build trust between border security agencies and local communities, encouraging them to report suspicious activities.
| Read more: Vibrant Villages Programme |
