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New Delhi, September 6 (IANS). The Central Government has launched a large-scale initiative under the Vibrant Villages Program (VVP) to establish the country's border villages as strong pillars of development and national security. The government said on Sunday that through this scheme with a total outlay of Rs 11,639 crore, a target has been set to connect more than 2,616 villages located on the international borders of the country with basic facilities, employment opportunities and modern infrastructure.

The Government believes that border villages are not just areas at the edge of the country, but they are India's 'first villages'. With this thinking in mind, emphasis is being laid on improving the standard of living of the people living in these areas and making them an important part of the national security system.

Under the Vibrant Villages Programme, road connectivity, electricity, telecommunication, health services, education, drinking water, digital connectivity and livelihood facilities are being expanded. The objective of the government is to ensure that the people of the border areas get the same facilities for development as are available in other parts of the country.

India's international land borders are more than 15,000 kilometers long and connect with seven countries. The longest border is with Bangladesh (4,096.7 km), while longer borders are also shared with China (3,488 km) and Pakistan (3,323 km). Apart from this, India also shares borders with Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan and Afghanistan.

For decades, many border villages remained away from the mainstream of development due to inaccessible geographical conditions, limited connectivity facilities, weak infrastructure and lack of employment opportunities. Due to these circumstances, a large number of people migrated from these areas, due to which the population of many villages continued to decline.

To address these challenges, the government launched the Vibrant Villages Program in the year 2023, which aims not only to create physical infrastructure but also to create strong and self-reliant communities by promoting sustainable economic activities in the border areas.

The scheme is being implemented in two phases, VVP-1 and VVP-2. VVP-1 mainly focuses on villages in the northern border areas, while villages along other international borders are being covered under VVP-2. Both the phases combined will cover more than 2,616 villages.

The two phases are also different in terms of implementation arrangements. VVP-1 is a centrally sponsored scheme, being implemented in collaboration with the states, while VVP-2 is a Central Sector Scheme entirely financed by the Central Government. However, both aim to improve the quality of life of border communities and strengthen the local economy.

It is noteworthy that VVP-1 was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23, which was formally launched on 10 April 2023 from Kibithu village in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh. Kibithu is considered one of the easternmost and strategically important border areas of India.

–IANS

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