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The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked CAPF and state police officers to spend at least 50 nights each year in border villages. (File photo)
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is learnt to have directed officers from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and state police to spend at least 50 nights every year in border villages, in a move aimed at deepening engagement with frontier communities and strengthening grassroots intelligence gathering.
According to officials familiar with the development, the instructions were issued to the directors general of the Border Security Force (BSF), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), the Assam Rifles, and the police chiefs of border states. The directive follows deliberations at the DG-IG Conference held in Raipur in November last year.
In a recent direction, MHA said the police should increase their movement in border villages as a part of the Vibrant Villages Programme. “As part of direct measures, police officers/teams should undertake night stay for at least 50 nights in border villages every year,” the source said, citing the directions.
VVP was launched on April 10, 2023, by the MHA to identify villages of strategic importance in blocks abutting the northern border in a mission mode, to improve the quality of life of people living in these villages.
A source said that during their 50-day visit, officers will engage directly with the villagers to understand their basic socio-economic issues, traditions, potential vulnerabilities, build their trust, and improve intelligence gathering. “During these extended visits, officers are also expected to interact with youth, adventure tourists, NCC cadets, and community representatives, encouraging them to act as “eyes and ears” for the security agencies,” the source said.
At a workshop on the Vibrant Villages Programme held in Delhi last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had underscored the role of CAPFs in promoting socio-economic development alongside their security duties. “The CAPFs can provide assistance in the areas of health, sports, and education,” Shah said.
Citing the example of ITBP’s initiative in Arunachal Pradesh, Shah said the force had begun sourcing essentials like milk, vegetables, and grains directly from Vibrant Villages, a model that also supports local employment.
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“It is the responsibility of the CAPFs and district collectors to establish dairy cooperatives to meet the milk requirements of the CAPFs and the army directly from the villages. This will aid in employment generation,” the home minister said then.
Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More
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