Sir,
Villages near border in Jammu and Kashmir often face inequality in terms of access to better livelihood opportunities as well as assured food and nutrition security. Their challenges are further escalated because of their location in high security zones where there is a perception of threat, conflict and shelling. In spite of being part of the country, the development and prosperity of the rest of the country is not always reflected in these regions.
Development of border villages should be a priority area. We often say our villages are still the reflection of our country. Unless our border villages prosper the country shall not. While the reason for such discrimination can be many, there is need to take account of the ground realities to develop the sustainable methods so that the border villages of J&K can be included in the development agenda of the country.
It has been 70 years since Independence that great minds have been working in Indian politics to take India in forward direction. But villages, town, cities lack basic amenities. Unfortunately, border villages are neglected by everyone whereas other parts of the country are going towards digitalization but villages in border areas can’t even think of the same.. Agriculture and Rural Development methods would be the key for the development of Border villages.
The basic element required for the development is “Education”. Currently there is a huge difference in border villages as compare to other parts of the country. If the people of border areas are educated , they will know caste system is wrong, they will know cleanliness is a priority area, they will know what to ask elected bodies for their farms, they will know what to grow when, they will know weather forecast, they will know how to use technology and so on.
Irony is that our politicians know this and they will turn the blind eye to it. They don’t want people asking questions to them and that is why the border constituencies are poorest and illiterate.
We the people of border areas still believe that the government will take our areas into their priorities and soon the Sustainable Development methods will be implemented and it will reach to the unreached people of border areas.
Harmeet Singh
Social worker
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