New Delhi, July 13 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday reiterated the Government's commitment to the all-round development of the border villages and stressed on the need to provide employment opportunities to local residents and increase connectivity to prevent migration from these villages.
The Home Minister reviewed the implementation of the "Vibrant Villages Programme" at a high-level meeting here and was attended by senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs including the Union Home Secretary, Secretary, Border Management and Director General, Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), an official statement said.
He said that the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Army deployed around the border villages should encourage purchase of local agricultural and handicraft products through cooperatives.
Shah said that the healthcare facilities of the Army and CAPFs should be regularly made available to benefit the residents of nearby villages. He also stressed upon maximum use of solar energy and other renewable sources of energy like windmills etc.
The Home Minister directed to continue the efforts being made by senior ministers and officials to better understand the issues of border villages under the Vibrant Villages Programme.
So far, more than 6000 events have been organised in these border villages, which include about 4000 service delivery and awareness camps. More than 600 projects have been sanctioned by the Government of India for employment generation in these villages.
During the meeting, the Home Minister laid special emphasis on review at the highest level at regular intervals to dispose of pending issues.
Under the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ scheme, 136 border villages are being provided connectivity through 113 all-weather road projects at a cost of Rs 2,420 crore. Moreover, 4G connectivity is being worked on at a fast pace in these areas and by December 2024, all villages under this programme will be covered by 4G network.
Appropriate steps are being taken to ensure financial inclusion in all these villages and India Post-Payment Banks (IPPB) are also being facilitated there.
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