Vibrant Villages Programme

Source-This post on Vibrant Villages Programme is based on the article “Vibrant Villages Program gets Rs 1050 crore allocation in budget, higher than FY24” published in “Moneycontrol” on 1st February 2024.

Why in the News?

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the allocation of Rs. 1050 crore for FY25 towards Vibrant Villages Program (VVP) in her interim budget speech.

What is Vibrant Village Programme?

1. About:
a. This is a centrally sponsored scheme introduced in the Union Budget 2022-23, to be continued until 2025-26.
b. It aims to enhance the living standards of residents in identified border villages by focusing on their development, improving their quality of life, and addressing outmigration along the northern border.

2. Nodal Ministry– Ministry of Home Affairs

3. States covered– The scheme will cover the border regions of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Ladakh. A total of 2,962 border villages in five states will be developed under this scheme.

4. Vibrant Village Action Plans– The district administration, in collaboration with Gram Panchayats, will formulate Vibrant Village Action Plans. These plans will guarantee full coverage of both Central and state schemes, avoiding any overlap with the Border Area Development Programme.

5. Growth centres– The scheme will also develop growth centres on the “hub-and-spoke model”. It will be done through the promotion of social entrepreneurship, empowerment of youth and women through skill development and entrepreneurship.

6. Significance:
a. It will create livelihood opportunities through agriculture, horticulture, tourism, cultural heritage, skill development, and entrepreneurship.
b. The program also seeks to enhance road connectivity, housing, rural infrastructure, energy, television, and telecom connectivity in remote areas.

UPSC Syllabus- Schemes & Programmes