‘BADP needs to promote local industries, adopt innovative approaches in implementing projects’
KARGIL: Despite having done multiple developments along border areas in union territory of Ladakh under Border Area Development Program (BADP), the people living in these regions still have enough awaiting to get to improve quality of life.
People residing along border side have been deprived of the facilities promised them to have since official apathy, besides unknown reasons.
The BADP was launched in 1986 by the Government of India to accelerate the development of border areas that are geographically remote and economically backward. In Ladakh, the BADP has been implemented in a phased manner since the early 1990s.
The program was and is aimed to create infrastructure in these areas, promote socio-economic development, and improve the quality of life of the people living in these regions.
Although talked of the other regions of India including Jammu and Kashmir UT, the Border Area Development Program has played a significant role in promoting the socio-economic development, and same initiatives were initiated for Ladakh, said a Kargil resident and added that there are several limitations that need to be addressed to ensure the effective implementation of the program. “The program needs to focus on promoting local industries and entrepreneurship, improve coordination between different agencies, and adopt innovative approaches to overcome the challenges in implementing projects in remote areas,” the resident said.
Another local said that the BADP has been successful in initiating several infrastructure development projects in Ladakh, such as the construction of roads, bridges, and other connectivity projects. The program has also supported the construction of schools, health centers, and other community facilities in remote areas.
The program has also helped in promoting tourism in the region by developing trekking routes, camping sites, and other adventure sports facilities. “It has also helped us in enhancing the livelihood opportunities by supporting agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry activities,” he said.
The BADP has also facilitated the creation of border roads that have improved the accessibility of the region; the local appreciated and added it has helped in creating infrastructure that has improved the connectivity of the region with the rest of the country.
A social activist said that despite the progress made by the program, there are several limitations that need to be addressed. It lacks coordination between the different agencies involved in the implementation of the program. There is a need for better coordination between the central government, the UT government, and the local authorities to ensure the effective implementation of the program.
The program must focus on the promotion of local industries and entrepreneurship, which is still lacking. There is a dire need to give adequate attention to the promotion of local industries and entrepreneurship, which would result in creation of sustainable livelihood opportunities for the people in the region, the activist asserted.
The program has also faced challenges in the implementation of projects in remote and inaccessible areas due to the difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions of cold desert. “Adaptation of innovative approaches to overcome these challenges and ensure the effective implementation of projects in remote areas is a must,” he added.
Recently, for Kargil district of the UT, LG was apprised and his intervention was sought in ensuring funds for Border Area Development in border areas.
Same is the issues with several areas in Leh district, wherein people living in difficulty have been raising their voice from time to time for a better and comfortable life.
