Centre releases ₹400cr for development of border areas
NEWDELHI: UNDER THE BORDER AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, 111 BORDER DISTRICTS IN 17 STATES ARE COVERED
Nearly ₹400 crore has been released by the Centre to 10 states having international borders, for developing forward areas as part of an ambitious plan to ameliorate the problems of those living in these isolated locations, officials said Monday.
The funds released so far this fiscal were in addition to ₹1,100 crore released in 2017-18 for the all-round development of villages located along the international borders in 17 states.
An amount of ₹399.44 crore has been released to the governments of Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and West Bengal under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) so far during 2018-19, a home ministry official said.
The Border Area Development Programme covers 111 border districts in 17 states to meet special development needs of border population with a focus on the people living within 50 kilometers of the international border.
The Border Area Development Programme implements various schemes, which include construction of primary health centres, schools, supply of drinking water, community centres, connectivity, drainage, to enable sustainable living in border areas. It now covers schemes or activities relating to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, skill development programmes, promotion of sports activities in border areas, promotion of rural tourism, border tourism, protection of heritage sites, construction of helipads in remote and inaccessible hilly areas, which do not have road connectivity.
Skill development training to farmers for the use of modern and scientific techniques in farming, organic farming are also part of the Border Area Development Programme now, another official said.
As many as 61 model villages are also being developed under the Border Area Development Programme to improve the quality of life for border population. A total of ₹13,400 crore has been released since the Border Area Development Programme was initiated in 1986-87.