Image Source: ETInfra.com
NATHANPUR, ASSAM — In a major strategic move to fortify India’s frontiers, Union Home Minister Amit Shah officially launched the Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) on Friday from the Barak Valley. The initiative, backed by a ₹6,839 crore outlay, aims to transform border settlements into self-reliant hubs, effectively turning the nation’s “last villages” into its “first line of defense.”
Phase II: A Nationwide Expansion
While the initial phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme focused primarily on the northern borders, Phase II marks a massive expansion. The project will now cover 1,954 villages across 17 states and Union Territories—including those bordering Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Key Statistics of VVP-II:
- Total Outlay: ₹6,839 crore (allocated through FY 2028–29).
- Assam Impact: 140 villages across 9 districts and 26 blocks.
- National Reach: 1,954 villages across 334 blocks.
- Target States: Includes Assam, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, and several Northeast states.
Strategy: Development as a Deterrent
Shah emphasized that the primary goal is to halt migration from border areas. By providing modern infrastructure—roads, telecom, 24/7 electricity, and healthcare—the government intends to ensure that these communities remain populated and resilient.
“When our border villages are prosperous and populated, the residents act as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the nation,” Shah stated during the launch in Nathanpur. “This is not just development; it is the ultimate deterrent against infiltration and cross-border crime.”
Priority Pillars of VVP-II
The program is designed to achieve “saturation” of government schemes, ensuring every household in these strategic zones has access to:
- Connectivity: All-weather roads and high-speed telecommunications to end geographical isolation.
- Livelihood: Promotion of local tourism, handicrafts, and sustainable agriculture to provide economic stability.
- Security Integration: Strengthening the relationship between local residents and Border Guarding Forces (BGFs).
- Flood Mitigation: Specifically for Assam, Shah pledged to make the state “flood-free” within the next five years to stabilize border economies.
Political and Security Context
The launch comes at a critical time as Assam gears up for Assembly elections in the coming months. Accompanied by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Shah used the platform to contrast current security measures with past administrations, claiming that illegal encroachment and insurgency have been drastically reduced over the last decade.
Later in the day, the Home Minister inspected the India-Bangladesh border fence and paid tribute at a martyrs’ memorial at a nearby BSF camp, signaling a high-alert posture against illegal immigration.
