People living in border areas lead their lives in one of the toughest conditions. Even for the day-to-day needs, they face hardships. The people living in states of Rajasthan Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir, bordering Pakistan face a hostile neighbour as well as extreme weather conditions. The condition in the border areas of Northern and North Eastern front is the same i.e. extreme weather with hostile neighbour. Ensuring the safety and the well-being of these people is the responsibility of the government. Therefore, Modi government has released a financial package to ensure the well-being of the people living in border states through development projects.
Home ministry has released 113.36 crore package for border states of Assam, Nagaland, Sikkim, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP). The programme, BADP is dedicated to ensure minimal living conditions in the border districts of the country. With this amount, the home ministry has released a total of 637.98 crore rupees so far in the financial year 2018-19 for states having international borders. A total of 111 districts in the 17 border-states are covered under BADP programme. The focus of BADP primary rests on all-round development of people living within 50 km range of the International border. INR 1,100 crore was released by the home ministry in the previous financial year for the development purpose.
People living in the villages near border areas still do not have access to primary needs such as primary health care, clean drinking water, modern drainage system and connectivity to cities. The development fund will be used for the better implementation of welfare programmes such as Ayushman Bharat-NHPS, Swachh Bharat, skill development of the people living in border areas as well as for taking new initiatives in the field of sports, border tourism etc. The BADP was launched in 1986-87 and since then, 13,400 crore has been released by the government for the program. So far, 61 model villages are being developed to provide better living condition to people in the states. This will also contribute in fostering competition in villages to have better living conditions.
Modi government has ensured security of the people from internal and external threats. The border areas are getting unprecedented level of funds for all-round development but at the same time, it has also been ensured that terrorists and maoists are dealt with heavy-handedness. Highest numbers of Maoists have surrendered in last 4 years of Modi government. The philosophy under which government operates is ‘The state has monopoly over any kind of physical violence’. The efforts by China and Pakistan to destabilise peace in the country were met with befitting reply in the case of Doklam and Uri. So, people living in border areas can expect to lead a more secure life with living conditions getting better in future by government’s support.