Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 13: Union Ministry of Home Affairs has approved Rs 650 crore worth special developmental package for the villages situated along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in strategically important Ladakh region. Now, the package would be discussed with the Union Finance Ministry shortly and the announcement in this regard is likely to be made in the Union Budget.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that as part of its initiative to strengthen borders with China in Ladakh region, the Relief and Rehabilitation Division of Ministry of Home Affairs prepared draft of the special package after minutely ascertaining the developmental requirements of all the 20 villages dotted along the Line of Actual Control with China in Changthang region of Leh district.
Based on the outcome of special exercise spread over several months, the Relief and Rehabilitation Division of the Ministry concluded that unless special attention is paid the people of these villages would remain deprived of basic amenities and the outcome of the same would result into migration of people and subsequent isolation of the Line of Actual Control.
“The Relief and Rehabilitation Division of the Ministry has justified the preparation of this special package on the ground that under BADP scheme the development needs of the areas on LAC with China are not being fully met with mainly due to diversion of otherwise inadequate funds to other villages”, sources said.
The Division, which was directed to work out the special package by the Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju, has observed that due to inadequate basic amenities the people of areas along LAC are getting compelled to shift to Leh and other adjoining towns and such a practice is required to be checked so as to keep watch on the designs of the neighboring country, sources informed.
They disclosed that the special developmental package worth Rs 650 crore has been approved by the Ministry after detailed deliberations on its broad contours and the same would be discussed with the Union Finance Ministry shortly so that the provision of the same is kept in the Union Budget and announcement of the same is made in the Parliament.
Disclosing that the package would be implemented during next five years, sources said that the unique aspect of this special developmental package would be that monthly honorarium ranging between Rs 7000 to Rs 10,000 per month would be given to each family residing in these 20 villages.
“The package envisages extension of financial assistance for construction of pacca houses, construction of network of roads, water supply schemes, development of pastures and agricultural land, irrigation facilities, electrification through solar energy and creation of health facilities”, they further informed.
Strengthening of Govern-ment schools, chain-link fencing of agriculture and pasture land and providing of support system to the nomads of Pashmina goats and construction of sheds for such goats besides providing of tools to the nomads to withstand the extreme weather conditions would also be covered under the special package, sources further said.
Disclosing that groundwork for roll out of the package has already been initiated, they said that estimates are being prepared for important works. “The financial assistance to the families of these villages would be provided directly into their accounts under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana”, they added.
The implementation of this special package would be directly monitored by the Rehabilitation Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs so that earmarked funds are utilized for the intended purpose and developmental profile of the areas along LAC is improved up to the expectations of the people.
It is pertinent to mention here that for the first time since independence that such a package has been worked out for the villages along LAC and this would go a long way in ameliorating the lot of people residing there.
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