Budget 2018 : Government allocates 370 Crores for border infrastructure

National security has always been in talks. The government has allotted 370 crores worth of rupees for border infrastructure. This is with special regard to the Indo-Pak and Sino-India borders. The home ministry sanctioned the amount to strengthen India’s border.

Usage of funds

The amount will be used for a variety of purposes. It will specifically be used for constructing bunkers and fortifying the BSF posts. The amount has been sanctioned to the BSF and ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police). It will also be used to construct climate-controlled huts. The funds have been allocated to the border forces especially since ceasefire violence has increased along the Indo-Pak border in 2017.

The BSF guards 2, 526.86 Km of the Indo-Pak border, 237.2 Km of the Line Of Control and 4096.7 Km of the Indo-Bangladesh border. The ITBP guards the borders around Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, etc. The defense in these areas is critical for India’s security. The exact amount allotted for the purpose was 369.84 crores.

The conditions in these areas are not easy. The allotment of funds shows the attempt of the government to strengthen the security in these regions. The funds will come in use for better equipment and improve the conditions of the soldiers. But, it also gives the citizen reason to worry, because if money is being pumped in the borders it would mean the government is preparing.

One will have to see if the funds are really put to use, and if so how? With the union budget, being decided one will have to see how things play out on the playing field. Will strengthening the borders really ensure security? One has already seen riots, cow vigilantism, etc. since 2017. It’s not enough to protect the country from external threats. There are threats within the country too that need looking into. We might be putting a strong face out to the world, but what if we aren’t safe in our own homes, what happens then?