Vibrant Village Programme (VVP), Objectives and Focus Areas

Vibrant Village Programme is a centrally sponsored scheme launched by the Government that Aims for comprehensive development of villages along India's northern border to improve the quality of life.

Table of Contents

Context: 40 villages in Uttarakhand will be revitalised under Vibrant Village 2.0, covering six blocks in Champavat, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar districts.

The Indian government plans to spend over ₹2 crore per kilometre for constructing roads along the China border in Uttarakhand and Sikkim as part of the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP). The Union Cabinet has approved the Vibrant Villages Programme-II for the financial years 2024-25 to 2028-29.

Vibrant Village Programme (VVP)

Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) is a Government of India initiative that seeks to develop and rejuvenate villages in frontier areas, mainly along the border with China. It aims to ensure infrastructure growth, livelihood chances, and social welfare to halt migration and build security and its dual aim is to enhance the quality of life of border residents and strengthen national security.

Implementation: Centrally Sponsored Scheme from 2022-23 to 2025-26.
Approximately 68% of villages in the first phase of VVP are in Arunachal Pradesh.
Out of the total VVP budget of ₹4,800 crore for three financial years (2023-24 to 2025-26), about ₹2,500 crore is allocated for road construction.

Coverage of VVP: 19 Districts and 46 Border blocks in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh.
- States/UTs Covered (VVP-I): Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Planning: Vibrant Village Action Plans created by the district administration with Gram Panchayats.
Coordination: Ensures 100% saturation of Central and state schemes without overlapping with the Border Area Development Programme.

Key Objectives of Vibrant Village Programme

Improve basic amenities and create livelihood opportunities in remote border villages.
Involve local communities as partners in border management and national security.
Curb trans-border crimes and promote national integration.
Develop essential infrastructure
Create livelihood opportunities
Improve the quality of life in border villages
Encourage people to stay in their native locations
Enhance border security

Focus Areas

Road connectivity
Drinking water
Electricity (including solar and wind energy)
Mobile and internet connectivity
Healthcare infrastructure and wellness centres

About the Vibrant Villages Programme II (Vibrant Village 2.0)

Vibrant Villages Programme II (Vibrant Village 2.0) is a Central Sector Scheme (100% Centre funding).
- VVP – I was a centrally sponsored scheme.
Total outlay: ₹6,839 crore.
Implementation period: Till FY 2028–29.
It will be implemented in select villages in the following States/UTs:
- Northeast: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura.
- North: Jammu & Kashmir (UT), Ladakh (UT), Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh.
- East: Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh.
- West: Rajasthan, Gujarat
VVP-II builds upon VVP-I, which focuses on villages along the Northern Border only.
A High-Powered Committee, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, will oversee implementation of the scheme.

Objectives of Vibrant Village 2.0

Comprehensive development of border villages.
Improve living conditions and livelihood opportunities.
Ensure prosperous and safe borders & Control trans-border crime.
Involve villagers as “eyes and ears” of border guarding forces.

Note

Both VVP-I and VVP-II aim to make border villages self-reliant, secure, and vibrant, while also acting as a strategic counter to population outmigration and border threats.