Theme: Governance | Internal Security | Border Area Development | Centre-State Relations

Context:

  • Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a two-day workshop on the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) in New Delhi.
  • Reiterated that "border villages should not be the last, but the first villages of India."

ABOUT VIBRANT VILLAGES PROGRAM

  • Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (VVP-I); Central Sector Scheme (VVP-II)
  • Time Period:
    • VVP-I: FY 2022–23 to 2025–26
    • VVP-II: Till FY 2028–29
VVP-I (Phase I) Coverage
  • Target Villages: 2,967 villages
  • Location: 46 blocks in 19 districts
  • States/UTs: Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh (UT)

FEATURES

  • Village Action Plans: Prepared by District Administration with Gram Panchayats
  • 100% Saturation of Central and State schemes
  • No overlap with the Border Area Development Programme

VVP PHASE 2

  • Type: Central Sector Scheme (100% Centre funding)
  • Approved: April 2025 by Union Cabinet
  • Outlay: ₹6,839 crore
  • Vision: Aligns with Viksit Bharat@2047 for "Safe, Secured & Vibrant Land Borders"
Coverage
  • Strategic Villages along International Land Borders (ILBs)
  • States/UTs:
    • Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, J&K (UT), Ladakh (UT), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal

KEY OBJECTIVES

  1. Prevent Migration from border villages.
  2. Achieve 100% saturation of government schemes in these villages.
  3. Develop villages as instruments of national security and local empowerment.

Vision Behind VVP:

  • Shift in national perspective from viewing border villages as “last” to “first” settlements.
  • Strengthen strategic presence, patriotism, and development in frontier regions.

Strategic and Security Dimensions:

  • Border villages are considered security assets.
  • Demographic changes in border areas flagged as a deliberate challenge to national security.
    • Example: PM’s Independence Day speech highlighting concerns.
  • Call for vigilance against illegal religious encroachments within 30 km of border areas.

KEY COMPONENTS OF VVP IMPLEMENTATION

  • Multi-sectoral Development:
    • Infrastructure (telecom, roads, healthcare, drinking water, education)
    • Tourism promotion (e.g., homestays with state-supported booking platforms)
    • Employment generation through cooperatives and local procurement.
      • E.g., ITBP sourcing local milk, vegetables, etc.
  • Cultural Preservation:
    • Promote and protect indigenous culture and identity.
  • Role of Stakeholders:
    • District Collectors: Key role in coordinating scheme saturation and tackling demographic issues.
    • Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs):
      • Contribution to education, healthcare, and sports.
      • Support formation of dairy cooperatives to supply security forces.
    • State Governments: Essential for coordinated implementation.

Outcomes and Best Practices:

  • Positive population trends in border villages of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Gujarat Model: Successful removal of encroachments along land and maritime borders.

Administrative Suggestions by Home Minister:

  • Integrate VVP into core administrative functioning.
  • Use schemes like MGNREGA for:
    • Creating ponds, afforestation, and permanent rural infrastructure.
  • Ensure inter-ministerial coordination (MHA, MoD, etc.)