Guwahati: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will on Friday formally roll out the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) from Nathanpur in Assam’s Cachar district, marking a major expansion of the Centre’s border area development initiative.
The second phase of the centrally funded programme will cover 1,954 villages located along international land borders across 15 states and two Union Territories, with a total financial outlay of Rs. 6,839 crore up to the financial year 2028–29, according to a government statement issued on Thursday.
Officials said the programme aims to ensure holistic and sustainable development of border villages by strengthening essential infrastructure, expanding access to basic services and creating long-term livelihood opportunities.
The initiative is also designed to build resilient and self-reliant border communities, aligned with the national vision of “Viksit Bharat @2047”.
The Vibrant Villages Programme was originally approved by the Centre on February 15, 2023, with its first phase focusing on 662 strategically located villages across 46 blocks in 19 districts of border states and regions, including Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Ladakh.
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Under Phase I, the Ministry of Home Affairs sanctioned 2,558 projects worth Rs. 3,431 crore, alongside more than 8,500 developmental and community-based activities such as awareness campaigns, health and veterinary camps, fairs, festivals and tourism promotion initiatives.
The second phase received Cabinet approval on April 2, 2025, expanding the programme’s footprint to villages along international borders in a wider geographical belt.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai had earlier informed Parliament that 1,954 villages had been identified for comprehensive development under this phase.
Government officials said the programme is not only aimed at socio-economic transformation but also at strengthening national security.
By empowering border communities, the initiative is expected to enhance vigilance, help prevent cross-border crimes and reinforce internal security, with residents playing an active role in safeguarding the nation’s frontiers.
As Report
Mentioned in the Hindustan Times
