Development of the border areas in the state, especially the areas falling along our border with two neighbours, namely China and Pakistan, had to be taken up on priority basis. If the people of the border area are not provided facilities and opportunities of development, they will be exploited by our neighbours. Unfortunately our relations with both Pakistan and China are not that cordial. Their approach to relationship with us is always politically motivated. The more disappointing feature is that these two countries have developed a nexus against us and are in tandem to destabilize our country and weaken us economically.
In view of these compulsions the Ministry of Home Affairs decided to float a full-fledged Border Area Development Programme (BADP) for J&K. State Government was taken on board for implementing this programme in accordance with the roadmap set forth by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. One important aspect of the programme was of monitoring the progress of developmental works in border areas that were identified for development.
Obviously, since the border areas that came under plan are situated far from the centre of power, it became necessary to monitor the progress at reasonable intervals so as to find out that the purpose was being served and the areas were witnessing development as desired. However, there have been complaints from some of the border people that their areas are not taken care of and negligence is playing a negative role in the overall security of the State. It is a matter of great disappointment that the State authorities have not responded as enthusiastically as they should have to the programmes of development offered to them. A survey and inspection of programmes underway at different districts or tehsils in the identified border area has produced a shocking result. Out of 4121 projects in the state under the programme, inspection of only 872 programmes has been conducted. The figures broken district-wise are still more disappointing. For example in Jammu, only 211 out of proposed 599 inspections have taken place. In Kargil only one out of 143 inspections has taken place. This is the case almost with all the sites. The result is that the MHA is not in a position to establish the progress made in the entire project. It has to be reminded that the Home Ministry had also provided guidelines and electronic equipment to do the monitoring by Android based mobile application, which is the latest method of monitoring a project under execution. The State Department of Planning introduced the monitoring system under JKPULSE according to which the District Development Commissioners, Executive Engineers BDOs and others at the ground level were to report the progress regularly, which would be stored with the MHA and made available for examination.
It appears that the District authorities have not taken their job seriously and have not cared to maintain the record and pass it on to the authorities. Why inspection has not been made and why monitoring has not been done is a serious issue. Perhaps the District Development Commissioners are not fully conscious that the development of border areas is crucial to the security of the country. Of all the persons, the DCs should have been much concerned with the implementation of the scheme.
Many people from the border areas including some MLAs have complained that sub-standard material is being used for developmental works in the border areas under the said scheme. This is what the MHA had apprehended and for the same purpose a mechanism was devised to provide mobile sets to the ground staff so that they could take photographs of day to day progress and convey the same through Android devise to higher authorities. This too has not worked and the slackness, negligence and lack of sense of responsibility have dogged the otherwise very crucial developmental scheme. State Government should ensure that concerned authorities from top to bottom are made to respond to the duties assigned to them. This is criminal negligence and defaulters need to be brought to book for dereliction of duty.
Follow our WhatsApp channel