Union Cabinet Approves Rs 6,839 Crore Vibrant Villages Initiative to Strengthen India's Security
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Synopsis
The Union Cabinet has approved the Vibrant Villages Programme-II with a budget of Rs 6,839 crore to enhance national security by developing strategic border villages until 2028-29.
Key Takeaways
- Budget allocation of Rs 6,839 crore.
- Focus on villages along international borders.
- Aim to enhance national security.
- Development of infrastructure and sustainable livelihoods.
- Utilization of technology for project execution.
New Delhi, April 4 (NationPress) The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has sanctioned the Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) as a Central Sector Scheme aimed at developing villages situated along India’s international borders to bolster national security.
With a comprehensive budget of Rs 6,839 crore, this initiative will be executed in select strategic villages across the States and Union Territories of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir (UT), Ladakh (UT), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal until the financial year 2028-29.
This programme, which is fully funded by the Centre, aims to facilitate the holistic development of villages that are adjacent to international land borders (ILBs), apart from the Northern border already included in VVP-I, as per an official announcement.
The programme’s goal is to improve living standards and provide sufficient livelihood opportunities to ensure safe and prosperous borders, curb trans-border crime, and integrate the border population into the nation, training them to serve as the “eyes and ears” of border security forces, which is vital for internal security, the statement noted.
Funding will be allocated for infrastructure improvements within individual villages or clusters, development of value chains (via cooperatives, SHGs, etc.), targeted outreach activities, educational infrastructure such as SMART classrooms, tourism circuit development, and various projects aimed at creating diverse and sustainable livelihood opportunities in border regions, according to the statement.
Interventions will be tailored to be border-specific, as well as state and village-specific, based on Village Action Plans developed through collaborative efforts.
All-weather road connectivity for these villages will be established under the previously approved Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana-IV by the Ministry of Rural Development. A high-level committee, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, will consider appropriate relaxations in the guidelines for effective scheme implementation in border regions.
The initiative also seeks to achieve saturation in existing individual and household welfare schemes in the targeted villages through convergence in line with scheme regulations.
Additionally, the programme aims to reach saturation in all villages within these blocks across four key areas: all-weather road connectivity, telecom services, television access, and electrification through convergence under current scheme guidelines.
To boost vibrancy in these communities, activities such as fairs and festivals, awareness campaigns, celebration of national holidays, regular visits by ministers and senior officials from the Central and State/UT governments, and overnight stays in these villages will be organized. This will enhance tourism potential and promote the local culture and heritage.
The statement further mentioned that technology will be utilized and information databases like PM Gati Shakti will be leveraged for the effective execution of the project.
