Ministry of Home Affairs has identified 44 blocks in 11 districts of the State for development under BADP. These border blocks are usually at the receiving end of firing and shelling by Pakistani Rangers and army forcing the residents to leave their homes and seek shelter at safer places. The Union Government has devised the plan of making thousands of bunkers along these dividing lines so that the local residents take shelter in the bunkers when firing goes on and are not forced to leave their places and move away for safety. The result of the type of life which they are forced to live is that the entire border area remains under developed which adds to the plight of the people living there.
In order to mitigate the difficulties and suffering of the people residing in border areas the MHA has devised a scheme called Border Area Development Programme (BADP) under which the Ministry makes annual allocation of funds for the development of the border areas that fall within ten kilometres of the border lines. The Ministry desires that the funds should essentially be utilized for building the infrastructure in these areas on priority basis. These would include roads, water supply, electricity, basic medical support, schools, supplies etc. These are the endangered people because their lives and their livestock that are the mainstay of their economy are always in danger of being destroyed by the unprovoked shelling and firing of the enemy. It is extremely distressing that despite the funds allocated by the Home Ministry, despite the border areas in blocks and districts identified, the State administration is unable to utilize the allocated funds maximally year after year just because of slackness and irresponsibility of the functionaries. This is also a reflection on the performance of the officers who are supposed to be at the helm of affairs to monitor the progress of the work. It is the unfortunate people, the residents of these areas who are the worst sufferers not only of the unprovoked shelling of the enemy but also of the carelessness and apathy of the civilian authorities who are absolutely unmindful of the suffering and hardships imposed on them. State Government’s apathetic attitude in this matter will be understood from the statistics provided herewith.
An amount of Rs 6987 lakh was released for 44 border blocks in 11 districts of Jammu and Kashmir during 2014-15. However, the expenditure was to the tune of Rs 5803 lakh as a result of which Rs 1184 lakh remained unutilized.Similarly, an amount of Rs 9164.92 lakh was released for meeting the developmental needs of the border dwellers during 2015-16 financial year. However, the concerned authorities made expenditure of Rs 7950.75 lakh thereby leaving Rs 1214.17 lakh unspent.
During 2016-17 financial year an amount of Rs 10884.88 lakh was released for border blocks but the expenditure during the year was to the tune of Rs 9119.51 lakh as a result of which Rs 1765.37 lakh remained unutilized.
These figures show that the State Government has not been able to utilize the full amount provided by the MHA. These allocations are not lapsable and can be reclaimed for the following year. However, it has to be noted that non-utilization of funds means loss to the people of the concerned areas. It is against the national policy of the Union Government to let any area remain under-developed for one or the other reason. In fact the national policy is that far flung and border areas need to be given priority in the matter of development. If the works of development are deferred, there is every likelihood that the border dwellers might under pressure of circumstances permanently abandon their residence in the volatile border area and rehabilitate themselves at some other place miles away from their original habitats. That will be highly disadvantageous to them and to the Government. We, therefore, beseech the Government to ensure that the full amount sanctioned and released by the Home Ministry under the BADP scheme is utilised for the purpose for which it is meant and that the District Development Commissioners will be held responsible for planning and implementation of the scheme.
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