FINS (Forum for Integrated National Security submitted its Memorandum to the President of Bharat on border problems and solution.
Date - 1 October 2013
To
Shri
Pranab Mukherjee,
His
Excellency,
The
President of Bharat
RashtrapatiBhavan,
NewDelhi.
Subject
:- MEMORANDUM ABOUT BORDER PROBLEMS & SOLUTION
Sir,
1. Forum
For Integrated National Security (FINS) is a non political, non religious
social organization. Retired defence personnel including paramilitary officers,
retired bureaucrats, diplomats, journalists and retired Judges are the members
of this organization. The objective of the organization is to study the
national security issues and apprise and assist the government, while creating
awareness among the general public.
2. Last
year (FINS) along with other social organizations engaged with the similar
activities like Poorva Sainik Seva Parishad (PSSP) and Seema Jagaran Manch
(SJM) had undertaken a study of our borders with the aim of creating awareness
among the masses about the challenges on our borders. Accordingly a visit named
sharhad ko parnam to border areas from 20th to 22nd
November, 2012 was organized with the participation of about ten thousand youth
from all parts of the country. During the three days visit 3155 border
villages of Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Himachal
Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal
Pradesh were covered and 4 lac villagers contacted including defense and
paramilitary personnel . It was ensured
that teams from their parent state were sent to a different state so that they
could get a varied exposure. A human chain at 437 places along the
border involving a total of about one lakh people was formed to express
solidarity and resolve to defend the borders. Total length of the chain was
about 95 kms. Some salient points of
the visit are given below for your kind consideration;
SECURITY
RELATED ISSUES ON THE BORDER
3.
Bharat-Pak Border
(a) Unprovoked
firing from across the border in J&K Sector, smuggling of contraband goods,
fake currency, illegal migration and infiltration by terrorists etc. is a
regular feature. The people staying in the border villages suffer loss of life
and property. There is a need to strengthen our security and compensate the
people for losses.
(b) Land
of the farmers of the border villages was acquired for fencing along the
border. Compensation is yet to be paid.
(c) It
is recommended that ex-servicemen be allotted land in border areas. This will
help in improving the security, while providing them the shelter.
4.
Bharat-Nepal Border
(a) The border between Bharat and Nepal is
porous. Even the boundary pillars between Tanakpur (UKD) and Bhikhanathori
(Bihar) have been deliberately removed by unsocial elements. Therefore, Infiltration of criminals, Pak citizens and
terrorists, human trafficking, smuggling of illegal weapons, drug and fake currency
into Bharat and smuggling of cattle (Cow and Buffalows) out of Bharat has
become a regular feature. Most of the times, it is done with the connivance of
border security personnel and custom authorities. This calls for strong
vigilance and security along the border.
(b) Nepal has been a safe hide-out for
criminals and terrorists, who slip out into Nepal after committing crimes in
India. This requires immediate attention in consultation with Nepal government.
5. Bharat-Bangladesh Border
(a) Illegal migration from across the border
has not only changed the demography of Bharat, it has deprived the locals of
their livelihood and reduced the chances of their employment. These
Infiltrators have forcibly occupied their agricultural land. They have also
spread over other parts of the country and indulge in anti social and anti
national activities. They need to be identified and deported back to
Bangladesh.
(b) Illegal trade continues at the border
villages. Cattle including cows and even Camels are smuggled out from various
points at the border.
(c) Entire Bharat-Bangladesh border needs to
be fenced to check illegal migration, trade and smuggling etc.
(d) Disputes concerning land and water issues
need to be resolved on priority. Bangladesh needs to be pressurized through
diplomatic channels not to provide shelter to terrorists and criminals from
India.
6. Bharat-Myanmar Border
The porous and open border between
Bharat and Myanmar facilitates smugglers, Naxals and separatist groups to slip
out into Myanmar after committing crime in our country. Therefore, the border
needs to be provided better security and border villages need to be developed.
7. Bharat- Bhutan Border
Bhutan
is a friendly nation. It should be ensured that criminals and anti national do
not get shelter in Bhutan.
8. Bharat-Tibet (China) Border
(a) China is a hegemonic nation. In 1962,
she attacked India and occupied 38,000 sq kms of our territory and further laid
claim over a large area of 90,000 sq kms. She forcibly occupied Tibet which was
an autonomous region. She has designs to take over Ladakh, Sikkim, Bhutan,
Arunachal Pradesh and Nepal. China has
been carrying out border violations both by ground and by air. She intruded
recently deep inside Ladakh (Depsang) area, set up camps and refused to vacate.
It has also carried out similar violations in Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan. Our
meek response to these violations has emboldened China to carry out more and
more incursions while at the same time adversely affecting the moral of our
security personnel. It continues nibbling into our territory. Defence and foreign
policies need to be revised and our defence preparedness increased. We should
face these challenges from a position of strength.
(b) We need to develop tourist spots in
Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh near the LAC e.g. Demchouk, Nuebra in Ladakh and
Tawang and Walong in Arunachal. We have already started ‘Sindhu Darshan Utsav’
in Ladakh and started yatra to Tawang with great success. We also start Kailash
Yatra via demchouk.
(c) Border villages of Ladakh are very backward.
They lack basic infrastructure and source of livelihood. There are no
employment opportunities. They are neglected by state government and even the
central government does not care for their welfare. They understand and speak
Chinese language and as such are a very valuable source of information.
Government must look after them and use them for intelligence gathering..
9.
DEVELOPMENT ISSUES ON THE BORDER
(a) The basic infrastructure and facilities
are lacking in most of the border villages. Proper roads between the border
villages and between village and tehsil/district headquarters are not there. A
large number of villages are without electricity. The schools are without proper building and
adequate teaching staff. Medical facilities are almost none existent. In the
absence of hospitals in the close vicinity, people have to trek long distances.
(b) There are no employment opportunities
for the people living in these villages. Agriculture seems to be the only source
of livelihood, which also suffers from the lack of proper and adequate
irrigation facilities.
(c) The communication facilities are totally
inadequate. It is an inescapable necessity for the development of border
villages.
10.
RECOMMENDATIONS
We would like to make
the following recommendations for your kind consideration;
(a) Our
international borders are demarcated and defined. We should not say that
our borders are disputed or undefined. In fact our neighbors and USA also, have
occupied our land. We should resolve to take our land back from these
countries.
(b) Each
village is a very valuable source of intelligence information. The people need
to be trained and motivated to perform this activity. Some kind of incentive
and remuneration may be considered by the authorities. There is a need to
establish industries in the border areas and generate self employment. Formation
of ‘Village Defence Committees’and‘Village Development Committees’ is strongly recommended.
(c) For
better development of the Border Areas and better coordination between Security
forces and people staying in these border villages, a ‘BORDER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY’
needs to be constituted, which should have representatives from the villages,
security agencies and state border administration.
(d) Proper
carpeted roads need to be constructed and maintained regularly up to the border
villages. This will facilitate our defence forces in the movement of logistics
and personnel and will also help in the development of border villages..
(e) Generally
the illegal trade, smuggling and cross border infiltration takes place at
night. Therefore, provision of electricity for the border areas should be taken
up on priority.
(f)
Communication facilities both landline and mobile should be provided to
all the border villages. A clause may
be inserted while granting licence to service providers stating that they have
to provide communication facilities to the border villages.
(g)
The state and district authorities may be directed to ensure proper and
adequate education facilities including building, teaching staff etc. for each
village within their jurisdiction. Proper arrangements for counseling should
also be made.
(h)
Medical services need special attention. The states may be directed to
ensure that each village has some kind of medical facilities and suitable
hospital at appropriate distance is established.
11. May we request your kind indulgence for
the implementation of the above recommendations for enhancing the security of
our borders and development of border villages.
Yours
sincerely,
Members
of delegation
|
S.L. No.
|
Name
|
Place
|
|
|
|
1.
|
Lt. Gen. V.M. Patil
|
Pune
|
President PSSP
|
|
|
2.
|
Air Marshal R.C. Bajpai
|
Delhi
|
President FINS Delhi Chapter
|
|
|
3.
|
Lt. Gen. Mandhata Singh
|
Jaipur
|
Vice President PSSP
|
|
|
4.
|
Indresh Kumar
|
Delhi
|
FINS
|
|
|
5.
|
Ravishankar Prasad
|
Delhi
|
MP, Rajya sabha
Dy. Leader of opposition
|
|
|
6.
|
Rakesh Kumar
|
Jodhpur
|
Sanyojak Seema Jagran
|
|
|
7.
|
Kapoor Chand Vyas
|
Jodhpur
|
Pattern Seema Jankalyan Rajasthan
|
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