New Delhi [India], April 8 (ANI): According to officials, a Union Cabinet meeting is likely to be held on April 9. Meanwhile, on April 5, as the Union Cabinet approved the second phase of the Vibrant Villages program, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was exceptional news that would ensure a better quality of life for the border villages.

Taking to X, PM Modi said that the government is expanding the scope of villages covered under this program in the second phase.

'The Cabinet decision on Vibrant Villages Programme-II is exceptional news for ensuring a better quality of life for our border villages. With this approval, we are also expanding the scope of the villages covered compared to Vibrant Villages Programme-I,' PM Modi wrote on X.

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved the Vibrant Villages Programme -II, furthering its commitment to the vision of safe, secure, and vibrant land borders.

The programme would help in the comprehensive development of the villages located in the blocks abutting international land borders (ILBs), other than the northern border already covered under VVP-I.

With a total outlay of Rs 6,839 crore, the programme will be implemented in select strategic villages in the States/UTs of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, J&K (UT), Ladakh (UT), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal till the 2028-29.

The objective of the programme is to create better living conditions and adequate livelihood opportunities to ensure prosperous and safe borders, control trans-border crime and assimilate the border population with the nation and inculcate them 'as eyes and ears of the border guarding forces', crucial for internal security.

The programme will provide funds for infrastructure development within the village or a cluster of villages, value chain development (through cooperatives, SHGs, etc.), border-specific outreach activity, education infrastructure like SMART classes, development of tourism circuits, and works/projects to create diverse and sustainable livelihood opportunities in the border areas.

The interventions would be border-specific, state-specific, and village-specific, based on Village Action Plans prepared using a collaborative approach.

The programme emphasizes enhancing vibrancy in these villages by organizing activities including fairs & festivals, awareness camps, celebration of National days, regular visits by Ministers, senior Government officers from Central and State/UT Government & night stays in such villages. This would boost the tourism potential and promote the local culture and heritage of these villages.

Technology would be leveraged, and information databases like PM Gati Shakti would be used for the effective implementation of the project. (ANI)