The VVP was launched in 2023, originally to assist development in villages along the China border. On February 20, Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to launch the VVP-II programme at Nathanpur village in Assam’s Cachar district along the Bangladesh border. “The VVP programme envisages ensuring assimilation of the border population with the nation, and inculcate them as eyes and ears of the border guarding forces (BGFs), create better living conditions and adequate livelihood opportunities, and wean away the border population from inimical activities,” the Ministry said. “In these villages, opportunities for professional growth, social cohesion and national integration would be enhanced to ensure that border regions are not left behind in the country’s development journey and would be developed as growth centres,” the MHA said. The strategy includes saturation of existing schemes of the government to eligible individual beneficiaries and households, strengthen basic infrastructure and create enabling infrastructure and capacities to increase livelihood opportunities.

Source: The Hindu February 19, 2026 04:51 UTC