India
Minister Amit Shah calls for cooperative boost, use of green energy in border villages | India News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shahwho performed the performance of ‘ on SaturdayVibrant Villages Program‘ (VVP) has focused on accelerated and integrated development of villages bordering China, and has emphasized the need to create employment for their residents, local agriculture and craft products originating from cooperatives and the use of green energy are used to the maximum in these villages.
Shah, who chaired the meeting on VVP which was attended by the Home Minister and the Director General of ITBP, said that the Narendra Modi the government is committed to the overall development of the border villages by increasing their connectivity with the rest of India and thus preventing their people from migrating.
Shah, who is also the Minister for Cooperation, said that the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Army deployed around the border villages should encourage purchase of local agricultural and handicraft products through cooperatives. He underlined that the health facilities of the Army and the CAPFs should be made available regularly to help the people of nearby villages. He stressed on maximum use of solar energy and other renewable energy sources like windmills etc. in these villages.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi prefers to call the border villages “first villages,” a change from the past when they were called “last villages.” VVP was launched in February last year in a bid to win the hearts and trust of border dwellers, who are the first line of defense against border intrusions or war. A happy border population is the basis for a stronger information network, was the mantra behind the VVP initiative.
Coinciding with the visit of residents of VVP villages to Delhi this year to watch the Republic Day parade, the Home Minister said VVP has helped “bridge the distance between hearts”, with government spending on infrastructure upgradation of these villages in the last five years being twice the total expenditure made on their development in 70 years of Independence.
Shah on Saturday directed senior ministers and officials to continue their efforts to understand the problems of VVP villages. Ministers and officials have visited the border villages at the request of the prime minister. So far, more than 6,000 events have been organised in VVP villages, including around 4,000 service delivery and awareness camps. More than 600 projects have been approved by the government of India for generating employment opportunities.
Under the VVP scheme, 136 border villages are being provided with connectivity through 113 all-weather road projects at a cost of Rs 2,420 crore. 4G connectivity is being rapidly developed in these areas and by December 2024, all VVP villages will be covered. Appropriate steps are being taken to ensure financial inclusion in all these villages and India Post-Payment Banks (IPPB) are also being facilitated there.
Efforts are underway to develop tourism circuits to bring vibrancy to these vibrant villages. In this effort, capacity building and tourism-related infrastructure are being developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism.
Shah, who chaired the meeting on VVP which was attended by the Home Minister and the Director General of ITBP, said that the Narendra Modi the government is committed to the overall development of the border villages by increasing their connectivity with the rest of India and thus preventing their people from migrating.
Shah, who is also the Minister for Cooperation, said that the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Army deployed around the border villages should encourage purchase of local agricultural and handicraft products through cooperatives. He underlined that the health facilities of the Army and the CAPFs should be made available regularly to help the people of nearby villages. He stressed on maximum use of solar energy and other renewable energy sources like windmills etc. in these villages.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi prefers to call the border villages “first villages,” a change from the past when they were called “last villages.” VVP was launched in February last year in a bid to win the hearts and trust of border dwellers, who are the first line of defense against border intrusions or war. A happy border population is the basis for a stronger information network, was the mantra behind the VVP initiative.
Coinciding with the visit of residents of VVP villages to Delhi this year to watch the Republic Day parade, the Home Minister said VVP has helped “bridge the distance between hearts”, with government spending on infrastructure upgradation of these villages in the last five years being twice the total expenditure made on their development in 70 years of Independence.
Shah on Saturday directed senior ministers and officials to continue their efforts to understand the problems of VVP villages. Ministers and officials have visited the border villages at the request of the prime minister. So far, more than 6,000 events have been organised in VVP villages, including around 4,000 service delivery and awareness camps. More than 600 projects have been approved by the government of India for generating employment opportunities.
Under the VVP scheme, 136 border villages are being provided with connectivity through 113 all-weather road projects at a cost of Rs 2,420 crore. 4G connectivity is being rapidly developed in these areas and by December 2024, all VVP villages will be covered. Appropriate steps are being taken to ensure financial inclusion in all these villages and India Post-Payment Banks (IPPB) are also being facilitated there.
Efforts are underway to develop tourism circuits to bring vibrancy to these vibrant villages. In this effort, capacity building and tourism-related infrastructure are being developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism.
