Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviews development works in Kutch under BADP scheme

Kutch/New Delhi, Nov 12 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday reviewed the development works at border villages in Kutch in Gujarat under Border Area Development Project (BADP) scheme.

Addressing the representatives of 158 villages of Kutch, Patan and Banaskantha at Dhordo in Kutch district, he said that the good governance and development must reach the border areas. The citizens who live in the border villages should get the same facility as the citizens living in our cities. Along with this, the aim of the Border Area Development Festival is to awaken the sense of national security among the public representatives and share the sensitivity of security aspect and strategic importance.

Mr Shah further said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Government has decided that the development works at international border will not be limited to Gujarat only but the “Seemant Vikas Utsav” will continue in other parts of the country and PM Modi will be also participating in these events.

“I will also go to the borders in the coming days to live with the soldiers who guard the borders and that will be continued in future too”, the Home Minister said, adding that it is most important for the protection of the border areas that these villages must be equally developed like in the main land so that the migration from bordering villages could be stopped.

Referring to the various initiatives taken by the Modi Government in last six years, the Home Minister said that arrangements are being made to equip all the forces with modern weapons and training. Various benefits such as electricity, bank accounts, toilets and gas connection have been provided to each home and free treatment up to Rs five lakh has also been provided by the Government, he added.

During his visit to Kutch, the Home Minister also visited the BSF “Weapon Exhibition” at Dhorodo by the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Force DG Rakesh Asthana briefed him regarding the border development works and Civic Action Program undertaken by BSF. A brief documentary on BSF was also shown during the program.

While reviewing the ongoing border area development works on Kutch border, Mr Shah praised the spirit of BSF and said that “as long as BSF is present, Borders are safe. BSF is always ready for supreme sacrifice to protect the Nation. I, along with whole nation is proud of you”.

On the occasion, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Home Secretary, BSF DG and other high officials of the force were present.