Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the second phase of Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP-II), which envisages comprehensive development of select villages located along international borders.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Government Schemes- Vibrant Villages Programme.
About Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP)
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2023.
- Objectives:
- Comprehensive development of the select villages in 46 blocks in 19 districts in the northern border in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and UT Ladakh.
- Improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages and reverse the outmigration adding to improved security of the border.
Key Focus Areas:
- Livelihood Generation:
- Skill development and entrepreneurship support.
- Promotion of agriculture, horticulture, medicinal plants and herbs.
- Establishment of cooperative societies to manage agriculture and allied activities
- Tourism and Cultural Promotion:
- Development of tourism infrastructure, support for community-managed homestays.
- Organisation of local fairs and festivals. Encouragement of local cuisines and traditional crafts.
- Promotion of eco-tourism, agro-tourism, wellness, wildlife, spiritual and adventure tourism.
- Infrastructure and Connectivity:
- Development of road connectivity, housing, village infrastructure.
- Access to renewable energy sources, television and telecom services.
- Outcome-Oriented Approach: VVP has been conceived as an outcome oriented programme with outcome indicators at three levels- village, household & individual beneficiary.
Vibrant Villages Programme Phase 2 (VVP-II)
- Type: Central Sector Scheme (100% Centre funding).
- Aim: Comprehensive development of the villages located in the blocks abutting international land borders (ILBs), other than the northern border already covered under VVP-1.
- Implementation:
- Total outlay: Rs. 6839 crores till the FY 2028-29.
- Programme shall be implemented in select strategic villages in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, J&K (UT), Ladakh (UT), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
- Objectives:
- Create better living conditions and adequate livelihood opportunities to ensure prosperous and safe borders.
- Control trans-border crime.
- Assimilate border population with the nation and inculcate them as ‘eyes and ears of the border guarding forces’.
Key Focus Areas
- VVP-II will provide funds for:
- Infrastructure development within the village or a cluster of villages.
- Value chain development (through cooperatives, SHGs, etc.)
- Border specific outreach activity.
- Education infrastructure like SMART classes.
- Development of tourism circuits.
- Works/projects to create diverse & sustainable livelihood opportunities in the border areas.
- The interventions would be border-specific, state and village specific, based on Village Action Plans prepared in a collaborative approach.
- All-weather road connectivity for these villages shall be undertaken under the already approved PMGSY-IV under the MoRD.
VVP-II along with VVP-I is a transformative initiative to make the border villages self-reliant and vibrant. It promotes inclusive development in difficult terrains and aligns with the vision of "Last Mile Delivery" and "Viksit Bharat by 2047".