The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced the second phase of the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) will cover 1,954 strategic villages along India’s borders with Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar. It will cover 15 States and 2 Union Territories. The VVP was first launched in 2023 focusing on villages along the China border. VVP-II received the Union Cabinet’s approval in April 2025. Home Minister Amit Shah is set to launch the programme on February 20 at Nathanpur village in Assam's Cachar district, near the Bangladesh border. The Ministry said border villagers often face issues like illicit activities, petty crimes, and illegal migration, which affect security and demographics. The VVP aims to connect border populations with the nation and encourage them to support border guarding forces (BGFs). It aims to improve living standards and provide better livelihood options to discourage harmful activities. To build trust, the Ministry will also run "culturally sensitive" border outreach programs. These aim to engage local communities, provide clear information, and foster cooperation with security agencies. This will promote shared responsibility for border management. VVP-II will focus on select villages in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal through 2028-29. A total budget of ₹6,839 crore has been allocated, with around ₹3 crore planned for each village. The main goal is to meet development needs, improve livelihoods, and ensure economic and cultural assimilation with the nation’s growth. The programme will leverage existing government schemes, improve infrastructure, and create opportunities for professional and social growth. 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." Outreach efforts will educate border communities about security procedures and laws, and encourage them to report suspicious activities, strengthening overall border security.