‘Funds , funds everywhere but no will to spend ” can be the proverbial analogy given to the issue of Border Area Development Programme (BADP) in Jammu and Kashmir. A Centrally sponsored programme of much importance and introduced at National level is aimed at ensuring a balanced development of the country’s sensitive border areas. It primarily aims at providing infrastructural facilities as also promoting a sense of security amongst the local population. Perhaps, among the 96 border districts of 17 states, the performance of Jammu and Kashmir must be among the lowest. Now, for the last nearly two years there is a relative calm and peace along Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) which could have provided added leverage and elasticity for the District Administration to speed up the process of development of remote and inaccessible areas specifically near the IB . Even though the programme is primarily sponsored by the Centre, active collaboration of the Union Territory is a prerequisite which unfortunately has been found to be inadequate in the sense as to the manner and how funds allocated have not been optimally spent.
It is learnt that the position is so much disappointing that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has totally stopped ”sending ” funds to the UT of Jammu and Kashmir for the last two years due to the simple but most unfortunate reason of funds having not been spent fully at all for years together. There should be absence of no regrets by and prevalence of complacency in the concerned authorities over the nature of such funds being non -lapsable. Should there be one alibi or the other, one excuse or the other, unless there are some unavoidable short term circumstances on the contrary, for justifying poor performance or work at absolute snail’s progress of various projects like funds shortage, as is generally claimed in Jammu and Kashmir, preceded earlier by disturbed conditions when militancy was at its peak and the like ? However, in the absence of both , what causes are there for the existing scenario must be got fairly known. To illustrate the point , in the financial year 2018-19 , the Union Ministry released an amount of Rs.84 crore but only Rs.75.76 crore were utilized. Subsequently , against an amount of Rs.114.37 crore released ,only Rs.31 crore were utilized.
Let us take the other side, though slightly off the context but not wholly so, and that is the issue of providing livelihood means or employment to the needy for which such developmental activities are loaded with direct and indirect employment opportunities for some short period to local people plus opening new boulevards and smoothening the avenues for their livelihood . The question is if it would have been looked at from the point of view of the border dwellers needing such developmental works very badly who otherwise continue to be neglected due to poor implementation of schemes and programmes specially stitched for them , more than generally expected could have been done by the concerned authorities. We owe a lot to such border dwellers who despite all odds and hazards on account of the frequent misdemeanours even of serious nature from across the border , continue to brave those and hold on to their ground steadfastly even though they face difficulties due to absence of a proper infrastructure and facilities. We can cite the specific areas which are education, healthcare, agriculture, power , drinking water etc which need to be taken care of .
What we feel is that a supervisory cum monitoring committee headed by a senior bureaucrat must, on periodic basis , keep on assessing the developmental works especially under the BADP going on in an unhindered way so that corrective measures are taken in the right earnest and socio-economic aspects and well being of border dwellers , especially financial inclusion and skill development etc, are well addressed. We have to remember that people must be encouraged to live near borders and not leave their villages and areas on account of lack of developmental activities in and around their areas. Hence, what is left and in ”arrears” plus usual normal developmental activities under BADP must pick up and with speed.
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