Rajasthan has intensified Vibrant Village Programme-II to develop 184 strategic border villages across five districts, focusing on infrastructure, skill development, livelihoods, telecom, tourism and community empowerment.

Jaipur, May 28, 2026: Rajasthan has stepped up implementation of the Vibrant Village Programme-II to accelerate holistic development in 184 strategic border villages across five districts. The initiative is aimed at improving infrastructure, public services, livelihood opportunities and social empowerment in remote border regions.

The selected villages include 68 villages in Sriganganagar, 46 in Bikaner, 36 in Barmer, 30 in Jaisalmer and four in Phalodi. These areas are located in strategically important border blocks where the government is focusing on improving quality of life while strengthening local economic and social resilience.

Focus on Infrastructure, Livelihoods and Skill Development

Under the programme, the state government is undertaking comprehensive development works related to road connectivity, healthcare, education, electricity supply, television and telecom connectivity, livelihood generation, tourism, culture, youth empowerment, skill development, financial inclusion, cooperatives, self-help groups, farmer producer organisations and village-level infrastructure.

The initiative seeks to ensure that people living in border villages have improved access to essential services and better economic opportunities. By combining infrastructure development with livelihood and skill-based interventions, the programme is expected to create new pathways for employment, entrepreneurship, tourism-linked income and local enterprise development.

515 Works Worth Over ₹232 Crore Proposed

According to officials, out of the 184 villages selected under Vibrant Village Programme-II, 515 development works worth more than ₹232 crore have been proposed in 123 villages.

A provision of ₹3 crore per year has also been made under the programme to support saturation of development schemes in strategic border villages. The objective is to ensure that these villages are covered through key government schemes and receive focused development support in a time-bound manner.

Connectivity Across Border Blocks

The programme also places strong emphasis on improving all-weather connectivity and essential infrastructure across 3,195 villages located in Rajasthan’s border blocks. This includes strengthening road networks, telecom services, television access and on-grid electricity connectivity.

Reliable connectivity is expected to play a crucial role in improving access to education, healthcare, digital services, market linkages, government schemes and emergency services in border regions.

Community Engagement and Local Identity

Alongside physical infrastructure, the government is also focusing on greater engagement with communities living near international borders. Activities such as cultural programmes, tourism promotion, awareness campaigns, training sessions and community meetings are being planned to strengthen participation and awareness among local residents.

The state government has said that the initiative aims to give border areas a new identity based on self-reliance, security and prosperity. Officials said Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma is personally monitoring the implementation process and has directed departments to ensure quality-driven and time-bound execution of projects.

Mukhyamantri Thar Seema Vikas Karyakram Launched

In addition to Vibrant Village Programme-II, the Rajasthan government has launched the Mukhyamantri Thar Seema Vikas Karyakram to address the specific development needs of international border areas.

Under this scheme, ₹150 crore per year has been earmarked for the holistic development of 1,206 villages across five border districts. During 2025–26, more than 1,000 development works worth ₹137 crore have already been sanctioned.

These works are related to key sectors such as electricity, water, education, health, agriculture, animal husbandry, sports, tourism and infrastructure.

Skill Development and Livelihood Opportunities in Focus

For Rajasthan’s border districts, the integration of skill development, youth empowerment, cooperatives, self-help groups and farmer producer organisations is significant. These interventions can help rural youth, women, farmers and local communities participate more actively in the regional economy.

The development push is also expected to support local employment through tourism, agriculture-linked enterprises, rural infrastructure works, service delivery, digital connectivity and community-based livelihoods.

Experts believe that such programmes can play an important role in reducing migration, improving income opportunities and strengthening the socio-economic fabric of border communities.

Conclusion

The intensified implementation of Vibrant Village Programme-II in Rajasthan reflects a broader policy focus on developing border villages as centres of growth, resilience and opportunity. With investments in infrastructure, connectivity, skilling, livelihoods and community participation, the programme aims to transform remote border areas into self-reliant and better-connected village clusters.

For the skill development ecosystem, the initiative opens up opportunities for training providers, local institutions, community organisations and livelihood agencies to contribute to employment generation, youth empowerment and inclusive rural development in border regions.

Vibrant Village Programme, Rajasthan Border Villages, Skill Development, Rural Development, Livelihood Generation, Youth Empowerment, Border Area Development, Infrastructure Development, Tourism, Financial Inclusion, SkillCouncils