**Summary:**
In response to a parliamentary question regarding the Border Area Development Programme, the Ministry of Home Affairs clarifies its approach to border area development. The Central Government, following a review of the Border Area Development Programme, has replaced it with the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP).
The VVP is implemented through two schemes:
1. **Vibrant Villages Programme I (VVPI):** A Centrally Sponsored Scheme focused on comprehensive development of identified villages in blocks abutting the *northern* border in 5 States and UT. This includes the States of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim in the north eastern region.
2. **Vibrant Villages Programme II (VVPII):** A Central Sector Scheme with a total outlay of ₹6839 crores until the Financial Year 2028-29. VVPII aims for comprehensive development of identified villages located in blocks abutting international land borders (ILBs), excluding the northern border already covered under VVPI. The scheme covers the States/UTs of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, JK, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Key Entities Referenced
Border Area Development Programme: A scheme for the development of border areas, which has been reviewed and superseded by the Vibrant Villages Programme.
Bodoland Territorial Region: An area mentioned as a region benefitting from the Border Area Development Programme.
North Eastern Region: A region mentioned in the context of ensuring overall development of Border Areas.
Vibrant Villages Programme: A Central Sector Scheme approved for the comprehensive development of identified villages located in blocks abutting international land borders.
Arunachal Pradesh: A state in India where villages have been identified for comprehensive development under the Vibrant Villages Programme.
Sikkim: A state in India where villages have been identified for comprehensive development under the Vibrant Villages Programme.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for internal security and policy matters, answering the question in Lok Sabha.
SHRI NITYANAND RAI: Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3749
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12TH AUGUST, 2025/ SRAVANA 21, 1947 (SAKA)
BORDER AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME SCHEME
3749. SHRI JOYANTA BASUMATARY:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether Border Area Development programme scheme has been
stopped;
(b) if so, the reasons behind stopping this most efficient scheme for the
border areas like Bodoland Territorial Region;
(c) whether the Government has formulated any mechanism to ensure the
overall development of Border Areas like in North Eastern Region; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) to (d): Central Government, after comprehensive review of Border
Area Development Programme, has approved the Vibrant Villages
Programme-II (VVP-II), as a Central Sector Scheme, with a total outlay of
₹6839 crores till the Financial Year 2028-29 for comprehensive
development of identified villages located in blocks abutting international
land borders (ILBs), other than the Northern Border already covered under
VVP-I, in the States/UTs of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat,-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 3749 FOR 12.08.2025
J&K, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan,
Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Government has already approved Vibrant Villages Programme-I (VVP-I)
as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for comprehensive development of the
identified villages in blocks abutting the northern border in 5 States and
UT including the States of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim in the north
eastern region.
*******