Opinion | Border Areas: The Problems and the Remedial Measures

The People living in border areas face innumerable hurdles in their survival. The Precipitous threats put their entire lives in the desperate. Unprecedented accidents can cause death or serious injury. Military combat can also lead to the destruction of homes and property which becomes a matter of concern. In addition to death and destruction, people living in border villages often suffer supplanting which not only has a physical but psychological impact on people. Frequent dispersals are reminders of political and cartographic divisions, and often involve some form of physical and psychological brutality and bloodthirstiness. Jammu and Kashmir share a border with Pakistan as an International Border (1B) and the Line of Control (LOC). Pakistan’s constant terroristic thoughts have been a source of constant concern since 1947. Because of Pakistan’s blasphemous terror attacks the economic activities, farming activities, livelihood and education in border areas, etc all have faced devastating consequences to a large extent. The border areas are deprived from various basic facilities which includes:-

Inacessibility to the various basic necessities: The People living in border areas face innumerable hurdles in their survival. The unavailability of road connectivity, the shortage of network availability, lack of drinking water facilities, shortage of Street lights and lack in better education scenarios. These basic deprivations irks them massively.
Border areas remain underdeveloped : Border area’s remain underdeveloped and inaccessible due to difficult terrain and lack of facilities like proper roads, educational institute’s and hospitals. Lack of economic opportunities makes their lives even more difficult.
Staff deficiency and lack of modern equipments: The staff deficiency in government offices and lack of modern equipments is a major problem in the current defense system at the border areas.
04) Shortage of Electricity and lack of health-care facilities : As mentioned earlier, people living in border areas are badly affected due to lack of electricity and poor health infrastructure. Due to the lack of such basic facilities in the area, the people who are posted in the health system services there, receive their monthly wages but mostly prefer to shift to urban areas due to inadequate facilities in the area, and the consequences for health care are very severe and the people living in the adjacent areas suffer a lot so this also need to be ensured as well.
Remedial Measures.
We need to ensure some steps given below for the betterment and welfare of the people living in Border areas.
01) Providing basic necessities to these deprived Areas: As mentioned Previously the border village’s faces innumerable hurdles due to the lack of better road connectivity, inability of children’s to acess better education fronts, unavailability of street lights despite being threat prone area. The Government should take these things under consideration and should take these developmental strides for the Upliftment of such deprived dwellers.
2) Need in Military Capacity Enhancement and Modernisation of the armed forces : There is need of advancement in the defense system to safeguard these threat-prone border areas. There are multiple threats
from multiple origins which can threat our border area’s, whether it is criminal activity, terrorism, money laundering, drug smuggling or pandemics. So we need to ensure the improvement for effective military compatibility in border areas to protect those living in such adjacent areas. Pakistan is continuously trying to disturb peace in the region. Undoubtedly, our country has never tried to hurt any country in any way, but countries like Pakistan have always been trying to harm our nation but they themselves get harmed by their sacrilegious acts.
03) Development in the Border areas to enhance the job opportunities and other developmental strides in the distant region:
As ministry of home affairs has implemented BADP (Border Area Development Programme), which aims to meet the unique developmental requirements of the people living in distant areas near the international border and to provide essential infrastructure in the country’s border areas. Border areas in J&K have been significantly improved by various initiatives taken by the Government which includes, “Retreat Ceremony” adopted by LT Governor Manoj Sinha intending to encourage border tourism which eventually contributes in generating the job opportunities in the region. Constructional initiatives have constantly taken place in places like Keran, Gurez and Machhal for tourist attractions contributing massively in the employment generation. Such initiatives have brought much relief for the border dwellers, where tourism-related activities have gradually started. Sustaining successful ‘capacity building’ initiatives requires dedication and commitment. Accessing the sustainable livelihood opportunities for people in border areas will help them integrate with the mainland, create a conducive environment and encourage people not to migrate. This will certainly go a long way in eradicating terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir.
Writer can be reached on : syedjahanzeeb2@gmail.com