Rajnath: Need for infrastructure development in border areas

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday claimed that India and China just has perceptional differences otherwise relationship between the two countries is good. Singh is on a visit to Sikkim to chair a meeting with Chief Ministers of states bordering China.

The Union Home Minister addressing the meeting at Chintan Bhawan in Gangtok on Saturday stressed on the need for infrastructure development in the border areas. "The border with China is undemarcated, extremely cold with an extremely difficult terrain. Impetus should be given to infrastructure and peace in the border areas," stated the Home Minister.

Singh informed that Central assistance for Border Area Development Programmes (BADP) has been enhanced from Rs 990 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 1100 crore in the current financial year. The Ministry is also focusing on modern villages. "In the last financial year, 41 model villages were created for which a financial allocation of Rs 92 crore was made," stated Singh. He further urged the State Governments to submit maximum proposals for model villages to the Central Government. The Minister stated that the issues concerning border areas should be jointly addressed by the State and the Central Government in a coordinated manner.

The Union Minister stated that along with the border security forces, impetus should be given for the upliftment of civilian people living in the border areas. Singh stated that the requirements of the people living in the border areas should be looked after and provided for. "I have requested the State Governments of the Indo-China Border states to look into these issues," added Singh.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu briefed the Union Minister on the issues concerning development. Issues concerning border infrastructure including border roads, border outposts, critical infrastructure and coordination between the concerned States and ITBP stationed in states were some of the main issues deliberated upon in the meeting.

The states of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh were represented by their respective Principal Secretaries, Home.