GS3 PYQ 2020 (Mains Answer Writing): Border Area Management | UPSC Mains: Internal Security & Disaster Management PDF Download

For effective border area management, discuss the steps required to be taken to deny local support to militants and also suggest ways to manage favourable perception among locals.(MAINS GS3 2020)

Border Management is an integral approach towards borders in which along with security enhancement, infrastructure & human development is undertaken. India’s border situation. 

• India has 15,106.7 Km of land border and a coastline of 7,516.6 Km including island territories. From Sir Creek to the Bay of Bengal, India’s land borders present a geographical diversity of a unique kind. Much of its borders are topographically difficult. 

Challenges in border management are peculiar like; 

• Some stretches of border are porous and easily negotiable 
• Some stretches of border are un-demarcated. 
• Border is physically unguarded at many places due to terrain constraints and lack of approachability. Also, these border regions have their own ethnic, cultural, religious and racial configurations distinct from the mainland and in some areas depicting an unmistakable affinity with those of across the borders. 
• The remoteness of local administration, its low visibility, illegal immigration, smuggling of arms ammunition and narcotic substances require number of measures from the point of view of national security. Hence, ‘the proper management of borders is vitally important for national security.’ Besides border guarding forces and other Central Government agencies, States’ Civil Administration, the border population is the most important ingredient in border management. 

Border Population role in Border management 

The people living in the border areas are the most important ingredients towards a secure and safe border. Village Defence and Development Committees at the base level with cooperation of the local populace would go a long way in enhancing security and development of the borders besides providing a sense of belonging to these people. 

But there has been serious issues with local in border management due to following challenges: 

(a) Inheritance Problems faced by border population like: 

• Vulnerability to actions of border criminals 
• Restriction/control over movement by forces 
• Fear of unknown—threat of aggression by enemy, cross border shelling, firing etc. 
• Lack of industrialisation/economic progress, neglect by Government being frontier areas 
• Lack of infrastructure, means of communication, education, medical, water and remoteness. 

(b) Issues between Locals and Border Guarding Force (BGF) 

• Prevention of Smuggling Activities which is a Means of Livelihood to Border Population: Smuggling is means of livelihood for many people in bordering areas. Prevention of smuggling activities by BGF lead to a perceived feeling that, they unnecessarily interfere in the means of livelihood of local populace. 
• Lack of Knowledge of Local Language: There is often a lack of communication between the local people and the BGF causing conflict/distrust. 
• A Sense of Distrust between the BGF and the Local Community: In many areas, BGF personnel have little communication with the local people to prevent connivance with smugglers and other criminals. The BGF field leadership keeps minimum contact with the local villagers. Hence, a communication gap exists which is detrimental to a congenial working environment. 
• Border Fencing and Connected Problems: The construction of the fencing has also generated many differences between the local villagers and the BGF. Access to the farmland across the fencing is regulated. Frequent frisking and timely gate opening are irritants to farmers. The BGF have however their own constraints. 
• Inherent limitations of BGF: The concept of community relationship, if not alien, is still not given due importance by BGF. Border guarding does not merely mean placing a sentry on a vantage point for preventing any threat to territorial sovereignty and sanctity Ways to manage favourable perception among locals One of the most important challenges of border management is integration of local community in border management. Preventing alienation of border population, winning their hearts and minds by formulating people inclusive border management policies is of paramount importance. 

This can be achieved by: 

• Providing adequate security. 
• Improvement of basic amenities, infrastructure and living conditions of people in border areas. 
• Assist in generating employment opportunities. 
• BGF must identify community-oriented programmes, which could be: Identification and development of projects in terms of infrastructure, health, education, employment generation, etc. 
• An effective communication with the villagers leading to better understanding, win public trust and to encourage public co-operation to develop public understanding of problems faced by the force. 
• Projecting positive image of BGF through media. 
• A strict adherence to code of conduct, ethical standards of discipline and 
• integrity and attempts on attitudinal changes 

Conclusion

• Border management in India, as an institution carries British legacy and is still disliked and suspected by people. The general feeling amongst the local population and the local government is that, the Central force personnel are unaware of the sentiments of the local people. Thus, the forces are slowly distancing away from local people and a feeling of mistrust is growing. 
• The BGF should give up the mindset that, everyone living in the border region is a criminal. They must imbibe the idea of involving the local community in border guarding The widening divide between BGF and population in bordering areas is cause of concern, since effective border guarding is not possible without community support. 
• It is, therefore, of paramount importance that, BGFs evolve ways and means, whereby people develop a feeling of attachment toward them. The community should serve as force multiplier in border management. 
• Once the local population along the bordering areas is integrated in the mainstream, a certain amount of moral responsibility would automatically come in. The realistic ‘community’s participation in India’s border management’ can be achieved only thereafter.

Topic Covered - Border Management