Partition of the country and Pakistan’s invasion of J&K State in October 1947 created new borders that were not known before. One bad result of this arbitrary partition was that the areas newly converted into border came to be known as backward and less developed areas. Generally speaking, despite sincere intentions of the Government to follow the policy of uniform development in the State, the State largesse does not in reality reach the border areas as expected. A number of reasons can be assigned both physical and psychological. Long distances, lack of fast-track connectivity, slow progress in development of infrastructure etc. are some of the reasons why border areas remain partially neglected. Additionally, hostility of the neighbouring country and intermittent firing and shelling on our border posts and villages close to LoC, have also contributed to a stalemate of sorts in the matter of proper development of border areas.
Keeping these and many more factors in view, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had floated the Border Area Development Plan (BADP) under which plan for development of border areas, funding and guidelines on how to implement the plan were provided to the State. Criteria were also laid down as to what would entitle an area to be called border area. Ultimately, the actual implementation of the plan is to be undertaken by the concerned Deputy Commissioners of the district, who, in cooperation with the paraphernalia provided for each district would identify the works in the border area that would be undertaken and brought to completion within the stipulated time. The BADP is in addition to the Annual Development Plan for each state supported by the Planning Commission. The MHA, while offering the plan also drew the guidelines for properly executing the plan on the ground and the State Government was expected to follow these guidelines in letter and in spirit.
The MHA naturally keeps an eye on the progress made in implementing the plan. The State Government constituted a State Level Screening Committee to examine the progress made in implementing the border development plan in the state. In a recent meeting the Screening Committee met under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. Its findings in respect of three districts, namely Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri, were disappointing. In the first place, it observed that the guidelines provided by the MHA were not adhered to and were violated. Secondly, it found that most of the identified works were not completed on time and no satisfying reasons were given for the lapse. Thirdly, the Screening Committee observed that while works taken in hand had not been completed, sanction of authorities was sought for starting more works. This was irrational especially when large funding was required for completing the works left half way.
Finding that the purpose of the Border Area Development Plan for a the State was not going the way it was designed to work, the Chief Secretary, who is also the chairman of the Screening Committee, has ordered freezing of the plan for three districts of Jammu, Rajouri and Kathua for the current financial year. Now, the Principal Secretary, Planning and Development Department will review these Plans before seeking necessary corrective steps from the concerned District Development Commissioners so as to place the modified Plans before the Chief Secretary for approval.
This is not an encouraging scenario in any case. Border areas are far behind in the scale of development. How sad that authorities at the helm of affairs in districts should become insensitive to the urgent need of implementing the development plans strictly in accordance with the guidelines suggested. In a number of editorials written from time to time, we have raised the basic issue of a culture of violating the norms and guidelines set forth but the Union Ministries when floating new projects of development. Why is J&K singled out for deliberate violation of the norms and guidelines suggested for each centrally sponsored project? Why cannot the State Government discuss with authorities at the centre any difficulty or obstruction it feels might crop up when implementing the centrally sponsored schemes along with guidelines. There are many examples in which non-compliance of guidelines has been given as the reason for freezing the funds or stopping them altogether. Our border areas are highly sensitive because these are not ordinary borders. Those who planned the BADP had taken a broad and over-arching view of the issue and then only devised a scheme of development. State authorities are putting a hurdle in the process. This cannot be tolerated. We cannot leave border area population disgruntled. They are the primary watchmen of our borders and we have to care for them. We have to care for the security of the State at any cost. Security and development are inseparable.
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