The congress-led UPA government is contemplating on making the country’s international borders easily accessible to the people. Prime minister Manmohan Singh recently constituted a high-level committee to study the existing systems of management of the country’s borders. After a period of study the committee has come out with its initial recommendations which include transformation of border area management and steps to make these areas more accessible to people.

The committee known by the name of task force on Border Area Development Programme (BDAP) has given a series of recommendations. The committee report suggests that since India is fast growing into a globally recognised economic super power, there is a dire necessity to improve trade with immediate neighbours. Transit of goods across the border is a dire necessity to keep up the growth curve. Moreover the report says that borders should portray the country’s development and these areas should clearly showcase the high-growth of Indian economy.

Constituted under the leadership for planning commission member B.N. Yugandhar, the committee has studied the changes in economic dynamics in the post liberalisation era. The report added that there needs to be a changed perspective about border areas in the newly globalised scenario.

“The Kargil War, subsequent confidence building measures, and the extensive development on the other side of the borders of the country have led to a reversal in the strategic policy and planning on border management,” the report said.

The report also recommended that border areas should not be restricted to the natives of our country. According to the report there is a need to change in perspective about the borders, and new policies and strategies of border management need to be evolved and formalized.

Border areas should derive the benefits of the country’s economic development, modern technology and should be equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and services said the report. These aspects should be included in the border management policy of our country.

Border management policies should be formulated to serve the best interests of the country as a whole and not based on what is happening on the other side of the border concludes the report.

India shares its borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Only the borders with Nepal, Bhutan and China are open to trade currently. If India has to ehnance trade and free flow of goods our diplomatic efforts should be to make all borders open for trade.