ITANAGAR, Mar 16:For far too long now, people residing in far flung border areas have not enjoyed the seeds of development, which has resulted in urban migration. All that stands to change now with the Home Ministry selecting 18 villages in Arunachal Pradesh to be developed as model villages.

This was announced today by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju while addressing press reporters here, along with a slew of other economic packages for the state.

Under the Border Area Development Program (BADP), Singbir in West Siang and Gelling in Upper Siang will be adopted as Model Villages in the first phase, for which a total of Rs 23.14 crore has been sanctioned. The rest sixteen villages have been sanctioned Rs 2 crore each. The model villages will have all the basic amenities and will focus on all the priority sectors like health, water, electricity, infrastructure etc.

The funds for this stands separated from the regular BADP funds that are funded annually to border areas.

Understanding the immense contribution of Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas in the field of education over the last many decades in the state, the Home Ministry today sanctioned a total of Rs 80 crore for establishing new VKVs as well as upgrading the existing VKVs. A sum of Rs 60 crore has been sanctioned for establishment of new VKVs at Anini, Lazu, Nafra and Mukto while the rest will be utilised to upgrade the existing VKVs at Amliang, Niusa, Koloriang and Chayangtajo.

Rijiju also pointed out that most of the ITBP (Indo Tibetan Border Police) deployment is at Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, he announced that for better management of Indo China Border, the Frontier Headquarters of ITBP will now be shifted from Shillong to Itanagar. He also said that the Sector Headquarters of ITBP will be established at Likabali and the Battalion Headquarters will be now retained at Basar instead of shifting to Dibrugarh as earlier decided.

Arunachal Pradesh will now have a NDRF Battalion, the country’s premier disaster response force, the Headquarters of which will be established at Holongi, Itanagar for Rs. 153 crore. The state will also get two IR Battalions of its own.

Rijiju also mentioned that for strengthening of Police Infrastructure in Tirap, Changlang and Longding Districts, a revised project cost of Rs 212.85 crore has been sanctioned.

Rijiju later congratulated the people of Arunachal Pradesh for reaping the benefits of the Government. He also appreciated the effort of the Chief Minister, Pema Khandu and his team for concentrating on the implementation of the sanctioned projects in the state.

Tourism Parliamentary Secretary, Pasang Dorjee Sona and Chief Secretary, Satya Gopal also attended the conference.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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