Guwahati, Feb 20: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP-II) from Assam’s Cachar district on Friday. The initiative will cover 1,954 border villages across 15 states and two Union Territories.

This central sector scheme, approved on April 2, 2025, carries an outlay of Rs 6,839 crore until the 2028–29 financial year. It aims for comprehensive development through a saturation-based, convergence-driven approach, focusing on infrastructure, basic services, and sustainable livelihoods to build secure, resilient border communities aligned with Viksit Bharat-2047.

The programme empowers residents to serve as the nation’s “eyes and ears,” enhancing border security and curbing cross-border crimes.Under VVP-I, the Ministry of Home Affairs sanctioned 2,558 projects worth Rs 3,431 crore, with over 8,500 activities like awareness drives, health camps, fairs, and tourism promotion already completed.