Border farmers for proper education, health facilities

Neeraj Bagga
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, June 18

Border area farmers feel that their key demands, ignored by the successive governments, should be addressed by the NDA-II government’s maiden Budget, to be presented on July 5. Farmers and farm labourers expect concrete steps to address farm crisis in the country. “Omission” of quality healthcare and educational institutes are among the major concerns of border villagers.

Dhanoa Kalan village’s Harmanpreet Singh says the border residents almost act as shield for the country and bear the maximum brunt in case of tumultuous relations with Pakistan, like the one visible following the Pulwama terror strike in February. “The government never bothered to ensure that these residents have adequate education and health facilities. Maximum vacancies in these two vital sectors are lying vacant in the border areas,” he says.

Confrontational bilateral relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours has resulted in situations leading to evacuation of border dwellers to safe locations post surgical strike in 2016, during the Kargil conflict in 1999, post Parliament attack in 2001, besides 1965 and 1971.

Sarbjit Singh of Gharinda village said the farmers with their land across the border fence on the international border (IB) are paid Rs 10,000 per acre per annum, which is not enough.

Dharmjit Singh of Dhanoa Kalan village said the Union Government allocated funds for development of the border areas under its Border Area Development Programme (BADP). However, the lion’s share is invested in areas and villages close to the city. He demanded funds’ utility on priority in villages along the international border.

Under the BADP, funds can be used in the area between ranging 10 km from the international border. The fund was started for overall development via infrastructure, education, training in agriculture with emphasis on organic and skills.

Another demand is widening the bridges on defence drain to avoid accidents, like one occurred in Mahawa village in 2016 that claimed seven kids’ lives.

Border Area Sangarsh Committee leader Rattan Singh Randhawa said there were over three lakh inhabitants residing in 220 villages along the 544-km international border in the state. He said inhabitants of the remotest part of the country demanded quality health and education services besides employment for youth so that they may not fall prey to drugs.