The Union Government has included 107 villages from six border districts of Punjab under the Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) to boost rural development.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai announced this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, responding to a question by Punjab MP Satnam Singh Sandhu.
Programme Timeline and Objectives
The government launched the programme in April 2025, and it will run until the financial year 2028-29.
The scheme focuses on livelihood generation, road connectivity, village infrastructure (including healthcare), financial inclusion, youth empowerment, skill development, and cooperative growth.
The Centre has approved Vibrant Villages Programme-II as a central sector scheme with an outlay of ₹6,839 crore.
This fund will support the comprehensive development of villages along India’s international land borders (ILBs), except those on the northern frontier, already covered under VVP-I.
Punjab’s Share in the Scheme
Of the 107 villages selected in Punjab, the distribution across districts is as follows:
- Amritsar – 25 villages
- Fazilka – 15 villages
- Ferozepur – 17 villages
- Gurdaspur – 19 villages
- Pathankot – 7 villages
- Tarn Taran – 24 villages
MP Satnam Singh Sandhu had asked the government whether Punjab villages were included in the Vibrant Villages Programme, along with details of the implementation status and budget allocation.
In response, Minister Rai confirmed that Punjab would benefit from VVP-II’s development push. The programme enhances border villages’ infrastructure and improves livelihood opportunities.
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