No one can encroach even an inch of our land: Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Vibrant Villages programme launched in Arunachal Pradesh

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KIBITHOO: “The era when anyone could encroach upon India’s land has passed and no one can dare to eye its border,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Monday.

Launching the Vibrant Villages programme in the border village of Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh, Shah said the valour of army and ITBP personnel ensures that no one can encroach even an inch of India’s land. He said that border areas are the top priority of the Modi government, pointing to the infrastructure and other development works carried out in the Northeast.

“The era is gone when anyone could encroach upon our lands. Now, not even land equal to sui ki noke (inch of land) can be encroached,” minister said.

Paying homage to the martyrs of Kibithoo who laid down their lives during the 1962 war, Shah said they fought with indomitable spirit despite the lack of resources. Shah said that no one says namaste in Arunachal Pradesh as people greet each other with ‘Jai Hind’ that “fills our hearts with patriotism”. “It is because of this attitude of the Arunachalis that China, which had come to occupy it, had to retreat,” Shah said.

“Earlier, people who returned from border areas used to say that they had visited the last village of India. But the Modi government has changed this narrative with people now saying that they have visited the first village of India,” Shah said.

“Before 2014, the entire north-eastern region was seen as a disturbed area but because of the Look-East policy, it is now known for its prosperity and development,” Shah added.

With central share of Rs 4,800 crore, including Rs 2500 crore exclusively for road connectivity for the four financial years (2022-23 to 2025-26), the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) will be executed in 2,967 villages in 19 districts adjoining international borders in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and UT of Ladakh.

In the first phase, 662 border villages in four states and UT of Ladakh have been identified for priority on coverage, which includes 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh. Under the centrally-sponsored scheme –VVP – comprehensive development would be carried out in the identified border villages aiming to improve the quality of life of people living in border villages and encourage the villagers to stay in their native locations thereby reversing the migration from these villages and adding to security of the border.

The focus areas of interventions identified for development of villages include road connectivity, drinking water, electricity including solar and wind energy, mobile and Internet connectivity, tourist centres, multi-purpose centres and healthcare infrastructure and wellness centres.

The Home Minister inaugurated nine micro-hydel projects of the Arunachal Pradesh government constructed under the ‘Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme’. These nine micro-hydel projects, which would generate 725 kilowatt electricity, have been set up at a cost of Rs 30 crore.

Shah also inaugurated Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) projects to augment infrastructure at Likabali (Arunachal Pradesh), Chapra (Bihar), Nooranad (Kerala) and Vishakapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). He also interacted with ITBP troopers at Kibithoo and witnessed exhibition stalls to acquaint with the efforts of women of border villages. The exhibition was organized with the products made by women members of Self-Help Groups of border districts.

On April 11, the Union Home Minister will visit Namti field and pay homage at the Walong War Memorial.

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