New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday accused the previous Congress-led government at the Centre of not paying attention to border infrastructure and trade through land routes with neighbouring countries.

“There was a time when there was no infrastructure, connectivity and trade with neighbouring countries through land routes in border areas. All these were halted. Might be the priorities were different,” Shah told the 10th Foundation Day Celebration of the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) here.

The Minister said through ‘PM GatiShakti ‘, the government was committed to take the transport system across the country. Emphasising the need to strengthen trade corridors, Shah asked LPAI to work in this direction, keeping in mind the security of the country.

“The LPAI not only plays a significant role in improving relation with our neighbouring countries but also plays a major role in uplifting the country’s economy. There is a need to strengthen the tradition of trade corridors. The LPAI should work in this direction, keeping in mind the security of the country,” he said.

“India’s boundary of 15,000 km with the neighbouring countries gives us challenges but at the same time it provides business opportunities. The LPAI must create enable environment to tap such opportunities. The LPAI should set a goal for the next 25 years through land routes.”

The Home Minister said to stop exodus from border areas, the Modi government was ensuring 100 per cent implementation of welfare schemes. “Our government is working on building infrastructure, improving connectivity, increasing trade through land routes, and focusing on people-to-people dialogue in border areas.”

Through people-to-people connects, any security threat in border areas can be averted, Shah observed. (UNI)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked budding civil servants to hunt for challenging jobs and not to restrict themselves in comfort zones.

“Don’t restrict yourself to your comfort zone. Always go for a tough challenge, develop your risk taking ability. It will not only help in your personal development but also take the nation to newer heights of success,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that officers should pray that they should never get an easy assignment as a challenging job has a joy of its own. “The more you think of going to the comfort zone, the more you will stop your progress and the progress of the country.”

Modi was addressing the valedictory function of the 2021 batch of officer trainees at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy Of Administration (LBSNAA) via video conferencing.

“In the next 25 years, when the country completes 100 years of independence, you have to keep in mind the biggest goals for India…. a self reliant India and an India that is modern.” The Prime Minister said that the officers need to evaluate and introspect whether ‘seva bhaav’ (sense of service) continues to remain their primary feeling or not.

“When we work with a sense of duty and sense of purpose, we do not feel the burden of work. You must become a part of a positive change for the society, for the country.”

The Prime Minister asked the officers to connect with the field to realise all pros and cons of a situation. He emphasized the need to embrace the experience from the field as real feel of the issues of the file come from the field. Modi said that files do not contain just numbers and statistics but they contain life and aspirations of the people.

“You have to work by understanding the difference between files and fields. Figures contained in the files are not just numbers. Every figure, every number, is a life. You have to work for every single life, not for mere numbers.” He urged the officers to go to the root cause of problems to be able to find permanent solutions.

Modi said that Artificial Intelligence and Data Governance should be included in the training of officers. He said that a lab on Artificial Intelligence needed to be established at the Academy.

“Data governance has to be the part of the training curriculum at the Academy. Data will become a major power in times to come. We need to understand aspects of data governance. The Academy can also have certificate courses on Data Governance and Artificial Intelligence.” The Prime Minister inaugurated a new sports complex and a revamped Happy Valley Complex. (UNI)

New Delhi: Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Kuldeep Singh on Thursday said as many as 175 militants have been killed while 183 have been apprehended in Jammu and Kashmir since March 2021 till date.

The CRPF has also killed 19 Maoists and arrested 699 in various operations in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected states during the same period, he said, adding that two militants have surrendered in J&K while 598 Maoist cadre or supporters have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, and 287 in the Northeast region.

Singh also said that during this period, 253 arms were recovered in J&K, 164 in LWE region and 128 in northeast region whereas over 96 kg of explosives were recovered in Jammu and Kashmir, 1,493 kg in LWE areas and 26 kg in the NE region.

The CRPF has also recovered 23 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in J&K, 398 in LWE areas and four in northeastern states whereas 232 grenades were recovered in J&K, 12 in LWE areas and 27 in NE states, he added.

Referring to the recent killing of a CRPF personnel who was at home on leave in Kashmir Valley, Singh said that this was the first such incident this year and added that the security agencies acted promptly and arrested the culprit within the shortest possible time.

He also said that a total of 41 VIPs were provided with VVIP security cover during the recently-concluded Assembly elections in five states while the security of 27 protectees has been withdrawn after the election.

Singh also said that on Saturday, the force will conduct its 83rd Raising Day parade at the MA Stadium in Jammu – the first time when this is being celebrated outside the Delhi-NCR. (IANS)

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has greeted the people on the joyous occasion of Holi.

In a message, the Lieutenant Governor said that the Festival of Colours symbolises the spirit of unity in diversity, harmony, and inspires us to move ahead with new hope for a brighter future.

“May the colours and vibrant energy of this auspicious festival further strengthen peace, and bring about prosperity and happiness for all,” the Lieutenant Governor added.

Meanwhile, Advisors to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar and Farooq Khan have extended warm greetings to the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the auspicious occasion of ‘Holi-Festival of Colours’.

While extending their greetings, the Advisors remarked that this festival indicating the onset of spring in our country, is an occasion to rejoice in the glory of nature in all its vibrant colours. They added that this festival gives us an opportunity to strengthen the spirit of brotherhood and deepen the bonds of friendship amongst us.

The Advisors also highlighted that this festival symbolizes the spirit of unity, harmony and tolerance, for which our country is known across the globe.

The Advisors also prayed for the peace, prosperity and progress of entire Jammu and Kashmir.

New Delhi: At least 44,167 families are registered as migrants with the Jammu and Kashmir government, an RTO reply said.

In an RTI reply, the Home Ministry said that a separate Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme in J&K namely SRE Relief and Rehabilitation was introduced in 1989-90 which includes financial assistance in the form of administrative, socio-economic, health, security related assistance to Kashmiri migrants including Kashmiri Pandits.

The scheme includes relief to migrants from Kashmir and Jammu settled in J&K and Delhi in the form of cash or kind.

It also includes expenditure towards providing employment to Kashmiri migrants from time to time under special packages.

It also includes financing rehabilitation activities related to migrants like construction of transit accommodations, housing facilities, scholarship, providing employment, waiving of interest loans, assistance to farmers.

In addition, cash assistance of Rs 3,250 per month with a ceiling of Rs 13,000 per month per family, and 9 kg rice, 2 kg atta and 1 kg of sugar per family is also being given to Kashmiri migrants.

Also, construction of 6,000 transit accommodations for 6,000 Kashmiri migrant employees in Kashmir Valley was approved in 2015. (IANS)