Union Home Minister Amit Shah Stresses on Employment, Connectivity, and Healthcare in Border Villages
New Delhi, July 12, 2024
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, reviewed the progress of the “Vibrant Villages Programme” at a high-level meeting in New Delhi today. The program aims to develop border villages and prevent migration by providing employment opportunities, improving connectivity, and enhancing healthcare facilities.
Shah emphasized the need to utilize solar energy and other renewable sources, promote local agricultural and handicraft products, and provide regular healthcare services to residents. He directed officials to continue their efforts to understand the issues faced by border villages and to review progress regularly to resolve pending issues.
Shah stressed on the need to provide employment opportunities to local residents and increase connectivity with villages to prevent migration from these border villages.
Under the program, 136 border villages are being connected through all-weather roads, and 4G connectivity is being rapidly expanded to cover all villages by December 2024. Financial inclusion initiatives, including India Post-Payment Banks, are also being implemented. Additionally, tourist circuits are being developed to promote tourism and vibrancy in these villages.
The scheme, launched on February 14, 2023, with an allocation of Rs. 4800 crore, has already seen significant progress, with over 6,000 events organized, including service delivery and awareness camps, and over 600 projects sanctioned for employment generation. Senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, including the Union Home Secretary and Director General, ITBP, attended the meeting.
