Latest news with #VibrantVillageProgramme


India Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
J-K: LG Sinha pays obeisance at Daati Maa Dev Sthan in border village of Changiya
Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 2 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, on Wednesday, paid obeisance at Daati Maa Dev Sthan in the border village of Changiya, in the Arnia area of Jammu region. Upon his visit, LG Sinha reiterated the Government of India's commitment to the inclusive development of the border area. 'The sacred Daati Maa Dev Sthan will be brought to the religious tourism map,' the LG said. The Lieutenant Governor prayed for the well-being of all and peace and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir. 'I also pray to Mata Daati for a safe and smooth pilgrimage for all the devotees of Shri Amarnath Ji, he said. LG Sinha lauded the courage displayed by the residents of border villages during Operation Sindoor. 'Border areas are the first line of defence. Vibrant Village Programme is transforming our border villages through improved infrastructure, and it will be ensured that the villages of this area will be taken up under the programme,' he said. Responding to the demands, the Lieutenant Governor assured that appropriate steps will be taken by the Centre to bring the sacred Daati Maa Dev Sthan on the religious tourism map. The Lieutenant Governor appreciated all the members of Akhil Bharatiya Mahajan Phagetra Biradari for their valuable contribution to the development of the Daati Maa Dev Sthan. Earlier today, Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of pilgrims for the Shri Amarnath Yatra from Jammu, amidst multi-tier security. J-K LG Manoj Sinha lauded the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board for making excellent facilities for the Yatra. 'Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces have also maintained tight security. Devotees from all over the country are here. The enthusiasm is very high. The devotees of Bholenath have neglected all the terror attacks and have reached in huge numbers. I am hopeful that this year's Yatra would be even better than the previous ones,' he said. (ANI)


NDTV
24-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Amit Shah Chairs Central Zonal Council Meet in Varanasi
Varanasi (UP): A meeting of the Central Zonal Council, chaired by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, discussed regional law and order, border security, disaster response and environmental protection with chief ministers and senior officials of four states on Tuesday. The CMs of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand attended the 25th edition of the high-level meeting held in Varanasi. The aim of the meeting, held at Hotel Taj, was to strengthen inter-state coordination and cooperative federalism, according to the Press Information Bureau (PIB). The last meeting of the council was held on October 7, 2023, in Uttarakhand. Zonal councils provide a structured mechanism for dialogue and discussion on issues affecting two or more states or the Centre and states and serve as an important platform to enable cooperation. Mr Shah, who arrived in Varanasi on Monday for a two-day visit, led discussions with the chief ministers of the four states and other senior officials. According to government sources, the discussions centred around social development, transportation and border issues, law and order, environmental concerns, and matters related to minorities. In a post on X, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has identified cooperative and competitive federalism as a powerful medium for the holistic development of the country. In this spirit, I participated in the 25th Central Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah in Varanasi." He posted ahead of the meeting that the council strengthens federal unity, national integrity, and regional development. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami posted on X, "During the meeting, I requested increased support through the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to strengthen road, communication, and security infrastructure in the border areas. I also stressed the need for faster expansion of BharatNet and satellite communication services under the Vibrant Village Programme," he said. He said he requested that the grant process under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana be simplified, called for the repealing of the 1989 Remote Valley Notification, and asked for additional central assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana to repair roads damaged during natural disasters during monsoon in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand. He also requested the Centre's support for "setting up a glacier research centre, biodiversity conservation institute, and an international adventure sports training centre. "Additionally, I sought assistance for successfully organizing the Nanda Raj Jat Yatra (2026) and the 2027 Kumbh Mela," he said. Mr Dhami added that the state government is working towards making Uttarakhand an active contributor in building 'Viksit Bharat'. MP CM Mohan Yadav said the discussion focused on cooperation between states, development, security, health and tourism. He shared a photo from the meeting. Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai said the meeting saw detailed discussions on a range of critical issues and described it as a key step towards "cooperative and competitive federalism". Earlier in the morning, Yadav and Sai offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple ahead of the meeting. There are five zonal councils in the country that are statutory bodies set up under the States Re-organisation Act, 1956, to provide a common meeting ground to the states and Union territories in each zone for resolution of inter-state and regional issues, fostering balanced socioeconomic regional development and building harmonious Centre-state relations.


New Indian Express
20-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Power supply to Uttarakhand's remote border villages and ITBP posts for first time since Independence
The work plan focuses on reaching these highly inaccessible and strategically crucial areas adjacent to the India-China border, marking a new chapter of development and connectivity for Uttarakhand's frontier regions. The tendering process has been completed for projects to provide grid-based electricity supply to the 43 ITBP outposts and 882 homes across eight border villages identified under the Vibrant Village Programme. These key locations are spread across the Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi, and Chamoli districts. Under the Vibrant Village Programme, Purali village in Uttarkashi district, along with Nabi, Kutti, Gunji, Garbyang, Shila, Baling, and Tidang villages in Pithoragarh, have been selected for grid connectivity to 882 homes in total. Survey work is currently underway, including technical assessments, line route determination, pole placement, transformer planning, and other essential preparatory tasks. UPCL Managing Director Anil Kumar stated, 'Under the guidance of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, both these schemes are extremely crucial from the perspective of national security and rural empowerment.' He added that despite the challenging weather conditions and limited accessibility in these mountainous regions, UPCL's regional teams are working on a war footing to achieve these targets


United News of India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
PM Modi announces additional aid for families hit by cross-border shelling
Katra (J&K), June 6 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced additional financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each for families whose houses were severely damaged due to cross-border shelling from Pakistan. Addressing a public gathering here, the Prime Minister stated that households suffering severe damage due to cross-border firing will now receive Rs 2 lakh, while those with partially damaged homes will be granted Rs 1 lakh. This assistance is in addition to the support already provided earlier by the government, an official statement said. He emphasised the government's commitment to the well-being of those affected, noting that families who lost loved ones in the shelling have already received appointment letters for government aid. Recognising the hardship faced by over 2,000 families impacted by the shelling, PM Modi reaffirmed the government's solidarity with the victims, saying, 'Their pain is the nation's pain.' Stating that the government recognises border residents as the nation's frontline protectors, Modi said, 'Over the past decade, unprecedented efforts have been made to strengthen development and security in border districts'. Highlighting key initiatives, Modi said that approximately 10,000 new bunkers have been constructed, which played a critical role in safeguarding lives during the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. He also announced the formation of two new border battalions for the Jammu and Kashmir division, further enhancing security operations in the region. Additionally, he said two dedicated women battalions have also been successfully established, reinforcing defence capabilities and empowering women in the armed forces. Emphasising the significant infrastructure development taking place in India's international border regions, particularly in challenging terrains, the Prime Minister announced that hundreds of crores are being invested to improve connectivity and security. 'The Kathua-Jammu Highway is being upgraded into a six-lane expressway, while the Akhnoor-Poonch Highway is undergoing widening to facilitate smoother travel. Under the Vibrant Village Programme, development initiatives in border villages have been accelerated, ensuring better living conditions and opportunities for residents,' the Prime Minister said. He mentioned that 400 villages in Jammu and Kashmir, previously lacking all-weather connectivity, are now being linked with 1,800 km of newly constructed roads. He announced allocation of over Rs 4,200 crore for these infrastructure projects, reinforcing economic growth and regional development in border areas. Earlier, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore at Katra. UNI VBH RBE PRS


Hindustan Times
24-04-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Helipads located in ITBP-controlled zones could be utilised to promote tourism: CM Sukhu
Shimla, Helipads located in ITBP-controlled zones could be utilised to promote tourism in remote areas and all formalities in this regard would be completed in consultation with the force, which would also help enhance connectivity, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Thursday. Sukhu, who held a meeting with Sanjay Gunjyal, Frontier Commander of the Northern Frontier Headquarters of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Dehradun here, said that the state government would establish improved coordination with ITBP's regional response centre to strengthen disaster management. In a statement issued here, the chief minister said that the state government is taking several steps to strengthen the rural economy, and if the ITBP procures food products directly from local residents, it would create employment opportunities and benefit farmers and horticulturists. He urged ITBP officials to prioritise the involvement of local residents in construction projects after completing all requisite formalities and also directed the state officials to expedite all procedures for establishing communication towers in border areas. During the meeting, detailed discussions were held regarding the role of ITBP in the border districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti and issues concerning security along the India-China border. Apart from this, various topics were deliberated upon, including a road map for promoting border tourism in the frontier regions of the state, procurement of local produce for ITBP supplies, and provision of medical services to local communities through ITBP healthcare facilities. Commander Sanjay Gunjyal briefed the chief minister about steps taken under the Vibrant Village Programme for the construction of three proposed roads in the Sangla Valley and Kaurik area. He also shared details of 15 additional roads proposed in remote and forward border regions of the state. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri virtually attended the meeting and shared his views and suggestions.