Union Government, especially the Ministry of Home Affairs is seized of strengthening border security of our Himalayan border. Indo Tibetan Border Force (ITBF), specially designed to maintain vigil on 3,488 km long border with China from Ladakh to Sikkim, will be provided with additional manpower and improved infrastructure taking into account the topography and climatic conditions in which the jawans have to work and maintain guard over the northern frontier. Eighty per cent of the tenure of a jawan of ITBF is spent in cold and icy Himalayan border at the height of 9000 to 18500 feet above sea level. The rest of the tenure meaning 20 per cent is spent in facing the insurgents in plains. In between, there is no rest and recuperation period for the jawans which, it appears, is a necessity and has to be provided. Though the demand of the ITBF was an increase of 6 battalions, the MHA has signaled its readiness to allow 8 battalions keeping in mind that jawans have to be provided periods of rest and recuperation.
In J&K we have 1597 km of border with China in Ladakh region. It is this border where Chinese indulge in maximum transgression. Their movements are largely unpredictable. It is along this border that we have some of the highest posts where winter temperature goes -10 to -40 degrees. We have to take into account the impact of climatic conditions not only on our jawans but also on the strategy, infrastructure, equipment, connectivity, accessibility and many other things. In recent times, the Defence Ministry has mounted attention on all these aspects and that is why road connectivity facilities like the tunnels in Zoji La or the alternative roads via Himachal are in progress. We cannot say any more that the Union Government is not fully responding to security concerns along the border with China. Our northern frontier security policy is going through a big change and Ladakh is assuming extraordinary importance in our defence schemes. This is a good sign and will also contribute to the development of entire Ladakh region.
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