Guwahati, Feb 19: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday will launch the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) from Nathanpur in Cachar, Assam. The initiative will target 1,954 border villages across 15 states and 2 Union Territories, officials said.

Centrally funded with an allocation of Rs 6,839 crore until FY 2028-29, the programme aims to promote comprehensive development in border areas. It focuses on building essential infrastructure, enhancing access to basic services, and creating sustainable livelihoods to strengthen secure and resilient border communities, in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

The first phase of VVP, approved on February 15, 2023, covered 662 villages in 46 blocks across 19 districts in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh. During VVP-I, the Ministry of Home Affairs sanctioned 2,558 projects worth Rs 3,431 crore, along with over 8,500 activities, including awareness campaigns, health camps, fairs, and tourism promotion.

The government approved the second phase on April 2, 2025. By empowering residents as vigilant “eyes and ears” of the nation, the programme also aims to strengthen border security, curb cross-border crimes, and enhance internal security, according to an official statement. Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai confirmed the expansion in a Lok Sabha response on February 3.