Context:
Cabinet approves “Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II)” for Financial Years 2024-25 to 2028-29
Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP):
- Announced in the Union Budget 2022-23.
- Type – Introduced as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme
- However, Vibrant Villages Programme-II is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% Centre funding
- Ministry – Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
- Objective – Comprehensive development of villages by improving living conditions, providing livelihood opportunities, and controlling trans-border crime
- Coverage –
- The 1st phase focused on the development of villages on the northern border, covering the border areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Ladakh.
- However, the 2nd phase expands it to strategic villages along international land borders (ILBs) across 17 states/Uts. These include –
- Northeast – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura
- North and Northwest – Jammu & Kashmir (UT), Ladakh (UT), Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh
- East – Bihar, West Bengal
- West – Gujarat
Key Features:
- Development Goals –
- Creation of Vibrant Village Action Plans by district administrations with Gram Panchayats.
- No overlap with the Border Area Development Programme (BADP).
- Economic Drivers –
- Promotion of social entrepreneurship and skill development for youth and women.
- Development of eco-agri businesses under the “One Village-One Product” concept.
- Leveraging tourism potential through local culture and heritage.
- Infrastructure Development –
- Focus on all-weather road connectivity, housing, renewable energy, and telecom.
- Development of growth centers using the hub-and-spoke model.
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
Department of Border Management is a Department of which one of the following Union Ministries?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2008 Prelims]
(a) Ministry of Defence
(b) Ministry of Home Affairs
(c) Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways
(d) Ministry of Environment and Forests
Answer: (b)