245 works completed; Rs 33.47 cr released to border dists
*Revamp blueprint rolled out under twin schemes
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 6: The Government has stepped up efforts to strengthen border infrastructure and improve living conditions in frontier regions of Jammu and Kashmir through two major initiatives–Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) and Samridh Seema Yojna (SSY) aimed at transforming strategically sensitive villages into secure, self-sustaining and economically vibrant settlements.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
According to the Economic Survey 2025-26, 1,421 villages across 49 International Border blocks in eight border districts of J&K have been identified under VVP-II for comprehensive development and saturation of essential infrastructure and welfare schemes.
The 100 percent centrally funded VVP-II, to be implemented from Financial Year 2024-25 to Financial Year 2028-29, covers strategically selected villages across 15 States and two Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, aligning with the broader vision of a “Viksit Bharat” while ensuring safe and secure borders.
In J&K, the programme covers border districts of Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Jammu, Kathua, Rajouri, Samba and Poonch. Additionally, 124 strategically important villages across 43 blocks have been selected for saturation of existing Central and UT schemes.
The initiative aims to improve living standards in remote border villages, generate livelihood opportunities, strengthen security along International Borders, curb trans-border crime, integrate border populations into the national mainstream and enable villagers to act as the “eyes and ears” of border guarding forces.
Component-1 of the programme envisages 100% saturation of four thematic areas in all 1,421 villages falling under 49 border blocks across eight districts, including all-weather road connectivity through PMGSY-IV, 4G telecom connectivity through Digital Bharat Nidhi, television access via the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) Scheme and on-grid electrification through the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).
Component-2 focuses on saturation of ongoing schemes in 124 strategic villages, covering livelihood opportunities, health infrastructure, education facilities, financial inclusion & empowerment and tourism promotion.
Component-3 includes border-specific outreach initiatives such as cultural programmes and awareness campaigns, medical and veterinary camps, training programmes and tourism promotion.
“Nodal officers have also been appointed at the village level across all border districts to ensure focused monitoring. Moreover, UT-level screening committees and district-level panels have been constituted, while officials have undergone online training conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs on handling the VVP-II digital portal,” the Economic Survey said.
The baseline data verification has been completed and districts are currently uploading real-time progress details. Gap analyses have also been carried out across all thematic sectors to identify developmental deficits.
Complementing VVP-II, the UT Government’s Samridh Seema Yojna (SSY), introduced under the CAPEX Budget in Financial Year 2023-24 with an allocation of Rs 50 crore, aims to plug infrastructure gaps in border areas through targeted projects.
The scheme covers multiple sectors including roads and bridges, culverts, retaining walls and foot suspension bridges; health infrastructure, including residential facilities for doctors and upgraded health centres; education infrastructure, including new school buildings, laboratories and hostels; agriculture and irrigation projects; sports facilities, including indoor courts and playfields; drinking water supply projects not covered under Jal Jeevan Mission; and social sector infrastructure such as Anganwadi and community centres.
During Financial Year 2025-26, Rs 40 crore was allocated under SSY, out of which Rs 33.47 crore (84 percent) has already been released to border districts. Up to December 2025, Rs 12.28 crore has been spent by completing 245 development works.
As per the Economic Survey, the works were selected based on gap analysis to address deficiencies in basic infrastructure and services in left-out or underdeveloped border areas.
“The twin initiatives mark a major policy shift towards strengthening both the security and socio-economic resilience of border populations. By improving connectivity, expanding essential services and promoting livelihood opportunities, the programmes aim to reduce isolation, enhance local participation in national security and transform border villages into thriving frontline communities rather than neglected peripheries,” officials of the Planning, Development and Monitoring Department said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
