When it comes to securing and safeguarding border areas, focus apart from military might must be on empowering border residents especially in a state like Arunachal were they act as sentinels and a buffer.
In the absence of authoritative presence, locals are left to play vigilante and often they are the ones passing on vital information to authorities and bringing such incidents to their knowledge. A few years back too locals noticed movement of Chinese army in Asa-Pila-Maya area about three months before the government knew about it. Villagers handed over photographs of the PLA vehicles entering Taksing circle to the Indian army intelligence and IB sleuths.
Given this scenario the need to strengthen border communities takes on urgency. Due to remoteness and lack of basic amenities many of the border villages are being abandoned which poses a huge threat to national security. Depopulated villages are increasing the vulnerability of the international boundary.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu has been batting for development of Border areas to check migration of people. A couple days back, he completed extensive tour of remote areas of Upper Subansiri near the international border to reach out to people living beyond district headquarters. Such initiative is crucial to understand the living conditions of the people in the remote areas, and to know their expectations from the central and state government. Previous chief ministers too had voiced intent to check the exodus of population from interior border areas to urban centres. A slew of welfare schemes in a bid to discourage migration of people living in border areas have been announced by the state as well as the Centre. These must not only remain lip service  and on paper. The pace of execution must be on another plane to match up for time lost.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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