India’s Borders Are Safe, Can’t Be Violated: Shah
Context:
Home Minister Amit Shah claimed during a visit to Arunachal Pradesh that no country can grab even an inch of Indian territory, as he launched a village development scheme in the country’s easternmost border community.
Points to Ponder:
- Arunachal Pradesh, a state in northeast India, was visited by Home Minister Amit Shah, who launched the 4,800-crore Vibrant Villages Programme. (VVP).
- The Village Development Program (VDP) will be implemented in 2,967 villages across 19 districts in four border states (Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh), as well as the union territory of Ladakh.
- The program would provide villagers with road connectivity, financial services, electricity, LPG, drinking water, employment, toilets, and digital access.
- The program’s goal is to encourage individuals to stay in border areas and improve their health. People residing along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), according to the Home Minister, are considered the first line of defense.
- During his visit, the Home Minister also spoke to a public gathering, declaring that no country can seize even an inch of Indian territory. He lashed out at China, which had lately attempted to rename many locations in the state, arguing that India’s borders were secure and could not be crossed even if the land measured only “the tip of a needle.”
- The Chinese Foreign Ministry protested the visit by stating that it was an infringement on Chinese territory. They said that Indian authorities’ activities in the area violate China’s sovereignty and territorial sovereignty, and are detrimental to peace and tranquillity in the border regions.
- In the past, China has opposed visits by Indian ministers, which the government has refused.
- The Home Minister’s visit comes just a week after Beijing announced plans to “rename” 11 locations in the northeastern state in a move to claim the entire state.
- The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has not responded to the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s statement.
- The Home Minister promised people “city-like” infrastructure and services within three years, as well as environmental and energy security and tourism promotion in border communities.
Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP)
- The Union Cabinet has approved the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) for the fiscal years 2022-23 to 2025-26.
- The plan intends to develop communities in blocks along the country’s northern border, enhancing the quality of life for individuals living in specified border villages.
- The scheme’s financial allotment is Rs. 4800 crores.
- The development of critical infrastructure and the establishment of livelihood possibilities in 19 districts and 46 border blocks in four states and one territory along the country’s northern land border would aid in achieving inclusive growth and retaining the population in the border areas.
- The scheme is intended to identify and develop economic drivers based on the local natural and human resources of the border villages on the northern border, as well as to develop growth centers based on a “Hub and Spoke Model” through the promotion of social entrepreneurship, youth, and women’s empowerment through skill development and entrepreneurship, leveraging tourism potential through the promotion of local cultural, traditional knowledge, and heritage, and the development of sustainable ecology.
- The district government will build vibrant Village Action Plans with the assistance of Gram Panchayats, guaranteeing 100% saturation of Central and state initiatives.
- The scheme’s goals include all-weather road connectivity, potable water, 24×7 energy, mobile and internet access, tourism centers, multi-purpose facilities, and health and wellness centers.
- The project will not conflict with the Border Area Development Programme.
- 2500 crore rupees of the Rs. 4800 crores budgetary allocation would be utilized on roads.
