39,000 projects approved under border development programme since 2004

More than 39,000 projects have been approved under the Border Area Development Programme, which is in its ‘sunset phase’, since FY 2004-05 in the bordering States and UTs, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, said these projects include the construction of roads, FSB, bridges and culverts, residential quarters for doctors, paramedics and other health officials, additional rooms in health centres, additional classrooms, Anganwadi centres, hostels, dormitories in schools, and livelihood projects.

The minister said the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) is implemented in villages/towns situated within 0-10 km (‘crow fly’ aerial distance) from the first habitation at the International Border (IB) in 16 States and two Union territories.  “Presently, the BADP is in its sunset phase,” Rai said.

The main objective of the programme is to meet the special development needs and well-being of people living in the coverage area and to provide essential infrastructure related to health, education, road, agriculture, sports, drinking water and sanitation, social sector, small-scale industries, etc., by converging BADP and central/State/UT/local schemes.