The Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ at Kibithu- a border village in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday.
In his address, Amit Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed people’s approach towards border villages, now people visiting border area know it not as last village but as the first village of India. Border areas are the priority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the security of the border is the security of the nation and this is the reason that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is continuously working to increase the border infrastructure.
Shah also said that in the 1962 war, the then Kumaon Regiment had shown unparalleled courage. He said that today the whole country sleeps peacefully because of the bravery and sacrifice of our Himveers of ITBP and Army soldiers and because of them only, no one can even look towards our border. Shri Shah said that the sacrifice, bravery, enthusiasm and patriotism of all the Jawans who are staying away from their families and serving the country at an altitude of 13,000 feet is commendable.
Amit Shah said that India wants peace with everyone but no one will be able to encroach on even an inch of our country’s land and it is the policy of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that there can be no compromise with the respect of our army and borders.
He said that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers the security of the borders as the security of the nation and therefore infrastructure on the border is the priority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that from 2014 to 2023, 547 kilometers of border fencing has been completed, more than 1100 kilometers of border roads have been constructed, 1057 kilometers of floodlighting has been done, 468 Border Observation Posts (BOPs) have been set up. He said that the work on border infrastructure which the opposition party could not do in 12 terms of their government, has been done by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in only 2 terms and this shows the priority of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards border security. For this, the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi has launched many schemes.
The Union Home Minister said that for the development of Arunachal Pradesh, all the villages within 5 km radius of the international border have been connected with All Weather Roads, the construction of 1859 km long Arunachal Frontier Highway has started and in the last few years 252 habitations have been connected by constructing 2500 km of roads in the border areas. He said that the central government has given Rs. 44000 crore to the Arunachal government for the development of infrastructure. He said that in the field of digital connectivity also, 4G connectivity has been reached in 684 villages and about 1327 border villages have been electrified.
Amit Shah also inaugurated 9 micro hydel projects of Arunachal Government and 14 infrastructure projects Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) worth Rs.120 crore. Several dignitaries including Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu, Union Home Secretary and Director General ITBP were present on the occasion.