Why In News?

The Ministry of Home Affairs reviewed the progress of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP-I & VVP-II), highlighting the transformation of remote frontier villages into self-reliant, strategic security hubs across India's international borders.

What is the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP)?

It is a central government initiative implemented in parts as both a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (VVP-I) and a Central Sector Scheme (VVP-II).  

It is an initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs designed to improve the quality of life and build prosperous communities in remote villages along international land borders.

Core Objectives: Enhancing road connectivity, providing 24x7 solar/wind electricity, mobile and internet access, healthcare facilities, and boosting livelihood options via tourism and cooperatives.  

 VVP-I (First Phase)

  • Launch: Approved in February 2023 for financial years 2022-23 to 2025-26.

  • Scope: Focuses exclusively on villages along India's northern border (covering states/UTs like Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh).

  • Funding Type: Implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), meaning it is funded jointly by the Union and State Governments.

  • Financial Outlay: Allocated an initial outlay of ₹4,800 crore.

VVP-II (Second Phase)

  • Launch: Approved in April 2025, and officially launched in February 2026, running through FY 2028-29.

  • Scope: Extends the development model to other international land borders (covering 1,954 villages across 15 states and 2 UTs along borders like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar, excluding northern areas already under VVP-I).

  • Funding Type: Implemented as a Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding provided directly by the central government.

  • Financial Outlay: Allocated an outlay of ₹6,839 crore. 

Strategic Significance for National Security 

Permanently inhabited border settlements act as India's primary human surveillance shield and territorial buffer.

Local residents provide indispensable real-time human intelligence (HUMINT) regarding hostile border movements.

Populated villages prevent clandestine foreign creeping encroachment and covert border salami-slicing tactics.

Local communities provide essential logistics staging, porter support, and high-altitude guidance to security forces.

Thriving border habitations solidify visible sovereign state presence along contested and undemarcated boundaries.

Source: PIB

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP):

1. VVP-I was launched from Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh, focusing exclusively on villages along India's northern borders.

2. VVP-II expands the scheme to cover villages along all international land borders of India, including those with Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

3. Under VVP, more than half of the budgetary allocation in Phase-I was specifically dedicated to the construction of all-weather road connectivity.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: (d)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: VVP-I was inaugurated in Kibithoo (Arunachal Pradesh) in April 2023, targeting 662 priority villages across 46 border blocks along the northern frontier (Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh).

Statement 2 is correct: VVP-II approved by the Union Cabinet scales the scheme to 1,954 border villages across 334 blocks in 15 States and 2 UTs along all international land boundaries.

Statement 3 is correct: Out of the total outlay of ₹4,800 crore for VVP-I, ₹2,500 crore (more than 50%) was earmarked exclusively for road connectivity.