The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that border population is strategic asset to the country and important element to maintain border security.
While interaction with Field and State Level Officers implementing Border Area Development Programme (BADP), here today. During the interaction, relevant issues regarding implementation of BADP and to make it more effective were discussed in detail. Shri Rajnath Singh stressed that the border population is strategic asset to the country and important element to maintain border security. He emphasised that all out efforts must be made to improve social and economic infrastructure to ensure that these people continue to live in border villages. He mentioned that the government accords utmost priority to social and economic well-being of border population and to provide them all facilities like connectivity, safe drinking water, schools, hospitals and other facilities to ensure sustainable living in these areas. He assured Centre’s continued assistance to States to strengthen infrastructure and development activities under the BADP.
The outlay under this Programme has been increased to Rs. 1,100 crore in 2017-18 from Rs. 990 crore in 2015-16. For comprehensive and all-round development of border villages, it has been decided to develop 61 model villages for which Rs. 126 crores have been released to the State Governments. Additional funds will also be made available as per requirement. Each model village will provide all basic facilities like primary health centre, primary education, community centre, connectivity, drainage, drinking water, etc. to enable sustainable living in border areas.
BADP covers 111 border districts in 17 States to meet special development needs of border population with focus on people living within 50 kilometers of the International Border. A total of Rs. 13,400 crore has been released since the programme was initiated in 1986-87.
