“Committed to All-Round Development of Border Villages”: Amit Shah Reviews Vibrant Villages Programme

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 13th July. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, conducted a high-level meeting in New Delhi on Saturday to review the implementation of the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’. This initiative is part of the Government of India’s commitment, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, to foster the all-round development of the country’s border villages.

During the meeting, Shri Shah emphasized the necessity of providing employment opportunities and enhancing connectivity to curb migration from border villages. He urged Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Army to promote the purchase of local agricultural and handicraft products through cooperatives, thereby supporting local economies.

Shah also highlighted the importance of making healthcare facilities of the Army and CAPFs available to nearby village residents. He stressed the need for the maximum use of renewable energy sources, such as solar energy and windmills, in these vibrant villages.

The Home Minister directed senior ministers and officials to continue their efforts to understand and address the issues of border villages under the Vibrant Villages Programme. To date, over 6,000 events, including approximately 4,000 service delivery and awareness camps, have been organized in these villages. More than 600 projects aimed at employment generation have been sanctioned by the Government of India.

Under the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ scheme, 136 border villages are being connected through 113 all-weather road projects, with a total investment of ₹2,420 crore. Rapid progress is being made on 4G connectivity, with all villages under the programme expected to be covered by December 2024. Efforts are also underway to ensure financial inclusion through the facilitation of India Post-Payment Banks (IPPB) in these areas.

To promote tourism and bring vibrancy to these villages, tourist circuits are being developed in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism. This includes capacity building and the development of tourism-related infrastructure.

Launched on February 14, 2023, with an allocation of Rs. 4,800 crore, the Vibrant Villages Programme reflects the government’s dedication to the holistic development of border regions. The meeting was attended by senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs, including the Union Home Secretary, Secretary of Border Management, and the Director General of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).