BORDER SECURITY MANAGEMENT:
India has extremely complex borders. It has 14818 kilometers of land borders and a coast line of 7516.6 kilometers. All states except Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Delhi and Haryana have an international border or a coast line. 92 of Indias 593 districts are border districts in 17 states. Indian borders run through plains, hills and mountains, deserts, riverine territories and marshes. Managing such a diverse border is a complex task but vital from the point of view of national security. The terrorist attack in Mumbai on 26 November 2008 brought out starkly that despite a number of measures taken by the government in recent years to strengthen border security, the terrorists could use the gaps in the borders to perpetrate their heinous acts. The attacks re-emphasised, inter alia,the need for better border management. Indias land and sea borders as well as air space continue to remain vulnerable.
Managing the borders is difficult for several reasons:
Some of our maritime boundaries are still unsettled. Land borders are not fully demarcated. Sections of our borders are based on artificial boundaries and not based on natural features. Border guarding forces are often under resourced and illequipped. They are also used for purposes other than border guarding. Intelligence gathering, intelligence sharing and intelligence coordination are imperfect. Institutional mechanisms for oordinating intelligence gathering, sharing and intelligence coordination are weak. Indias neighbourhood is in turmoil. Several of Indias neighbours are undergoing political and economic instability. India also has continuing border disputes with several of its neighbours. Uncertain borders not only raise bilateral tensions but also facilitate cross border infiltration, illegal migration, smuggling and crime Illegal migration has emerged as one of the major national security challenges.
Indo Bangladesh border:
The border of present day Bangladesh first came into being when theBengal Presidencywas created by the British. When India became independent from Britain in 1947, the country was divided among Muslim and non-Muslim majority areas.. Muslims were the majority in the western part of India and the eastern part of Bengal province. These two areas formed the new Islamic republic of Pakistan. The eastern part, East Pakistan, became the People's Republic of Bangladesh in theBangladesh Liberation Warof 1971.The border divides theGanges deltaregion and theSundarbanmangroveforest. It is crisscrossed by a large number of rivers. The area is mostly flat with slight hilly terrain in Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura and Mizoram sections. The border area is densely populated. The land is extremely fertile and is cultivated right up to the border pillars. Sometimes the border line passes right through villages, even buildings. The area is patrolled by the Indian Border Security ForceBSFof India andBGBof Bangladesh.
The border issues:
* smuggling livestock, food items, medicines and drugs from India to Bangladesh.
* Illegal immigrants from Bangladesh cross the border to India in search of improving their lives.
* Cross-border terrorism.
* The smuggling of weapons and narcotics
Border negotiation:
* Many conferences have been held betweenIndiaandBangladeshto discuss such issues as smuggling and trespassing, cattle lifting, trafficking of drugs and arms
* The border area is dotted with over a hundred Indianexclaveswithin Bangladesh, and over fifty Bangladeshi exclaves within India.
* In September 2011, the two countries agreed on land swaps to resolve the issue. The project has run into several delays and there is no clear completion date for the project yet.
* The barrier when complete will be patrolled by the Border Security Force. The fence will also be electrified at some stretches.
* The BSF claims that the barrier's main purpose is to check illegal immigration, and preventcross-border terrorism.
* Indiais presently constructing the Indo-Bangladeshi barrier, a 3,406 kilometres (2,116mi) fence ofbarbed wireand concrete just under 3 metres high, to preventillegal immigrationand the smuggling of weapons and narcotics.
* India has completedFlood lightsinstallation for 277 kilometers in theWest Bengalsector. Under the former government ofKhaleda Zia, Bangladesh troops clashed with the IndianBorder Security Forcein an attempt to prevent the fencing which resulted in deaths of several BDR personnel.
Indo-Nepal Border
India and Nepal have shared an open border since 1950 .such a border can be found in the Treaty of Peace and Friendship that the two countries signed that year. Provisions in the treaty, wherein citizens of both countries are given equal rights in matters of residence, acquisition of property, employment and movement in each others territory, provide for an open border between the two countries.The concept of an open border started only after signing of the Treaty of Sugauli in 1815. Under the Treaty of Sugauli, Nepal ceded Sikkim, along with territory west of river Kali and east of river Teesta. However, some territory in Terai was restored to Nepal after the revision of the treaty in 1816.Further in 1865, the British India government returned additional territory to Nepal in recognition of its support to the British government during the 1857 revolt. After the restoration of Naya Mulukto Nepal, the India-Nepal border was finally settled.
During colonial times, the British had an interest in keeping the border open for two reasons.
* Firstly, impressed by the fighting skills of the Gurkhas, the British wanted to recruit them into the Indian Army.
* Secondly, Nepal was seen as a market for finished goods from India.
To achieve these objectives, it was necessary to provide unrestricted cross border movement for both goods and people, and hence the idea of an open border.Independent India also followed the British tradition of an open border with Nepal. The open border between the two countries has facilitated close social, cultural, and economic exchanges and led to a special relationship between the two countries.People from both countries are free to enter the others territory from any point on the border, while the movement of goods is allowed along 22 designated transit points. Open border has been a great facilitator of strong and unique bilateral relations.At the same time, it has given rise to many irritants and problems that raise serious concerns.
Irritants and problems:
* Dispute along the Indo-Nepal border, mostly a result of the constantly shifting courses of the turbulent Himalayan rivers, ones relating to Kalapani and Susta.
* The submergence, destruction and removal of border pillars and encroachment into no-mans land by people from either side add to the problem.
* Forcible grabbing of land by either side along the disputed border also surface from time to time.
* An open border allows easy egress to terrorists and insurgents .
* e.g. In the late 1980s, Sikh and Kashmiri terrorists sneaked into India via Nepal .In later years, many insurgent groups from the North East, such as the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), and the Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO), also misused the open border.
* In recent years, it has been reported that many terrorists have sneaked into India through the porous and poorly guarded Indo-Nepal border.
* Earlier, Maoists reportedly often escaped into India when pursued by Nepalese security agencies.
* Anti-national elements indulge in illegal activities, such as smuggling of essential items and fake Indian currency, gun-running, and drugs and human trafficking.
* Unrestricted migration over the years has produced territorial pockets dominated by people originating from the other country
Management of Indo-Nepal border:
* In order to check anti-national activities on the Indo Nepal border which is open and porous as also to improve the security along this border, 27 battalions of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have been deployed as the Border Guarding Force.
* Bilateral mechanisms in the form of Home Secretary level talks and Joint Working Group at the level of Joint Secretaries exist between the two countries.
* Discussing issues of mutual concern like containing cross-border crimes, smuggling, situation arising out of terrorist actvities, etc. at national, regional and local levels.
Indo-Myanmar Border:
* India-Myanmar boundary stretches for 1643 km. The boundary was demarcated in 1967 under an agreement signed by both countries.
* To begin with, the Treaty of Yandaboo of 1826 negated Myamarese influence on Assam, Cachar, Jaintia and Manipur and pronounced the Arakan mountain range as the boundary between British India and Myanmar. An Agreement was negotiated in 1834, which returned Kubaw valley to Myanmar.
* In 1837, the Paktai Range was accepted as the boundary between Assam and Myanmar. In 1894, the Manipur - Chin Hills boundary was demarcated, and in 1896 Col. Maxwell redemarcated the Pemberton - Johnstone line, placing thirty-eight pillars on the ground.
* These pillars were referred to in the 1967 agreement. The Lushai Hills-Chin Hills boundary was demarcated in 1901 with minor alterations in 1921 and 1922.Under the Government of India Act of 1935, Myanmar was separated from India, but the resolution of the border between them was left to the newly independent governments.
* At the time of independence, the boundary between India and Myanmar was partially disputed, particularly the position of Moreh along with a few villages.However, the rise of insurgency and subsequent violation of the boundary by both insurgents and security forces of both countries forced India and Myanmar to negotiate a settlement of the boundary on 10 March 1967.
* Though the boundary is properly demarcated, there are a few pockets that are disputed.
Border management Problems:
* The rugged terrain makes movement and the overall development of the area difficult.
* The internal dynamics of the region in terms of the clan loyalties of the tribal people, inter-tribal clashes, insurgency, transborder ethnic ties also adversely affect the security ofthe border areas.
* Close ethnic ties among the tribes such as Nagas, Kukis, Chin, etc., who live astride the border help these insurgents in finding safe haven in Myanmar.
* As a result, various insurgent groups such as the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), and others have established bases in Myanmar
* The Indian government has been requesting the Myanmar government to take action against the Indian insurgents, but the Myanmar government appears either unwilling or incapable of flushing them out of its territory.
* The location of the boundary at the edge of the golden triangle facilitates the unrestricted illegal flows of drugs into Indian territory. Heroin is the main item of drug trafficking.
* The bulk of heroin enters India through the border town of Moreh in Manipur. It is reported that the local insurgent groups are actively involved in drugs and arms trafficking.
* The smuggling of arms and ammunition, precious stones and Chinese made consumer items finds its way into India illegally. Red Sanders, ATS (amphetamine type stimulant), grocery items, bicycle parts, etc. are smuggled from IndiaHuman trafficking is also rampant along the border.
* The provision of allowing the tribal communities of both countries to travel up to 40 km across the border without any passport or visa has also contributed to increased smuggling in the region.
Indo-Bhutan Border
* India and Bhutan share a 669 km long boundary.The boundary is demarcated except along the tri-junction with China. The process of demarcation of the India-Bhutan border started in 1961 and was completed in 2006.
* Like with Nepal, Indias boundary with Bhutan is also an open boundary.
* The border was peaceful till Indian insurgent groups such as the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) established camps in the southern districts of Bhutan.
* Taking advantage of the open border, these insurgents would sneak into Bhutan after carrying out extortions, killings and bomb blasts. This problem has been effectively dealt with during the Bhutanese governments Operation All Clear, which saw the destruction and uprooting of all insurgent camps in Bhutanese territory.
* However, stray insurgent incidents such as extortion and killings are still carried out by the surviving members of ULFA along the border areas.
* Smuggling and trafficking are also rampant along the border.
* Chinese made goods, Bhutanese cannabis, liquor and forest products are major items smuggled into India.
* Livestock, grocery items and fruits are smuggled out of India to Bhutan. trafficking are also rampant along the border.
* Chinese made goods, Bhutanese cannabis, liquor and forest products are major items smuggled into India. Livestock, grocery items and fruits are smuggled out of India to Bhutan.
Indo-Pakistan Border:
* India shares 3323 km long and complicated boundary with Pakistan .
* The India-Pakistan boundary is categorised under three different heads.
* The international boundary also known as the Radcliff line. It is 2308 km long and stretches from Gujarat to parts of Jammu district in Jammu and Kashmir.
* The second is the line of control (LoC), or the Cease Fire Line, which came into existence after the 1948 and 1971 wars between India and Pakistan.This line is 776 km long, and runs along the districts of Jammu (some parts), Rajouri, Poonch, Baramula, Kupwara, Kargil and some portions of Leh.
* The third is the actual ground position line (AGPL), which is 110 km long and extends from NJ 9842 to Indira Col in the North.
* The LoC and the AGPL has been a scene of constant tensions with border skirmishes and firing between the armies and border guarding forces of both countries.
* The LoC has been vulnerable to constant infiltration by foreign terrorists, Kashmiri separatists and Pakistani army regulars for long.
* The India-Pakistan boundary also does not follow any geographical barrier. It runs through diverse terrain like deserts, marshes, plains, snow clad mountains, and winds its way through villages, houses and agricultural lands making it extremely porous.
* Porosity of this border has facilitated various illegal activities such as smuggling, drugs and arms trafficking, and infiltration.
* Heroin and fake Indian currency are the two predominant items of smuggling along this border. Other items include saffron, textile, mercury, which are smuggled from Pakistan.
* The villagers adjacent to the border are alleged to be involved in smuggling in a big way. Money laundering is also quite rampant along the border.
* A large scale hawala network is flourishing in Punjab, especially in LudhianaIn addition, the border population has also been subjected to hostile propaganda by Pakistan designed to mislead and sway their loyalties.
* The Sir Creek area, due to its peculiar terrain, makes the movement of border guarding forces very difficult and thus, provides scope for illegal fishing in the creeks.and thus, provides scope for illegal fishing in the creeks.
India-China Border:
* India and China share a 3,488 km long boundary.
* Unfortunately, the entire boundary is disputed.
* The line, which delineates the boundary between the two countries, is popularly called the McMahon line, after its author Sir Henry McMahon.
* In 1913, the British-India government had called a tripartite conference, in which the boundary between India and Tibet was formalised after a discussion between the Indian and the Tibetan plenipotentiaries.
* A Convention was adopted on April 27, 1914, which resulted in the delimitation of the Indo-Tibetan boundary. This boundary is, however, disputed by China which terms it as illegal.India and China had never shared a common boundary till, China liberated Tibet in 1950.
* It was then that the hitherto IndiaTibet boundary was transformed into an India-China boundary.Since 1954, China started claiming large tracts of territory along the entire border such as Aksai Chin in Jammu and Kashmir, Bara Hoti, Sanchamala and Lapthal in Uttarakhand and the entire Arunachal Pradesh.In 1957, China occupied Aksai Chin and built a road through it.
* This episode was followed by intermittent clashes along the border, which finally culminated in the border war of 1962. The boundary, which came into existence after the war, came to be known as Line of Actual Control (LAC).
* It is a military held lineThe rapprochement between the two countries in 1976 enabled India and China to initiate High Level border talks in 1981 to find a solution to the vexed problem. After eight rounds, the talks broke down in 1987 because of the Sumdorong Chu incident.
* In 1988, following Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis visit to China, the Joint Working Group (JWG) was set up to look into the border problem. In 1993, the Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was signed and the India-China Expert Group of Diplomatic and Military Officers was set up to assist the JWG.In 1996, the Agreement on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in the Military Field along the LAC was signed.
* The JWG has held 14 rounds of talks between 1988 and 2003. In 2003, two special representatives (one each from India and China) were appointed to find a political solution to the border dispute to find a political solution to the border dispute.
* Till 2009, these two special representatives had held 13 rounds of talks, but it seems they have not made much headway.
* Meanwhile, China has hardened its position on the border issue and has started laying claims on areas which were thought to be settled as for example the finger area in Sikkim. claims on areas which were thought to be settled as for example the finger area in Sikkim
India-China border throws up only a few challenges.
* There is hardly any circulation of people or goods between the two countries through the border.
* The Himalayan range which lies astride the boundary has prevented any large scale trans-border interactions between people residing on either side of the border.
* These gaps were the trade and migration routes through which people and goods flowed. Some tribes like Monpas, Sherdukpens, Membas, Khambas and Bhutias had social and cultural tries with people across the border.
* Many other tribes also frequented the markets of Tibet to buy and sell products, but all these stopped after the 1962 war.
* Presently, there are only three designated areas along the India-China border through which border trade takes place; these are LipuLekh, Shipki La and Nathu La.The volume of trade in these trading points is not large.
* However, large scale smuggling of Chinese electronic and other consumer goods take place through these border points.
Challenges to Coastal Security and Island Territories
* In addition to the land boundaries, India also has a coastline of 7516.6 km. The coastline is highly indented with numerous creeks, rivulets and streams along with inhabited and uninhabited islands, sandbars, and mangrove forests
* These water channels, most of which are interconnected and run deep inside the land, render the coastline porous and hence vulnerable to cross-border infiltration, smuggling, and arms and drugs trafficking.
* Existence of mangrove forests, sandbars and uninhabited islands along the coast provide ideal hideaways for infiltrators, criminals and contraband.
* In recent years, the use of sea by terrorists to carry out attacks as was seen during the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and the November 2008 attack on Mumbai, have also added a new dimension to the vulnerability of the coastline.serial blasts and the November 2008 attack on Mumbai, have also added a new dimension to the vulnerability of the coastline.
* The matter is made worse by the existence of several high value targets such as oil refineries, atomic power plants, space stations, ports and naval bases along the coastline.
* While it is obvious that these installations would face a conventional threat from Pakistan in the event of war, there are growing worries about nonconventional threats as well as terrorist attacks, sabotage, etc., which could potentially inflict massive damage.
* For example, if terrorists were to attack a very large crude carrier carrying several million barrels of crude oil and seriously damage it resulting in a massive oil spill, the environmental and economic losses would be immense.
* It would not only lead to the destruction of marine life in the affected area but also disrupt maritime traffic. Straying of both Indian and Pakistani fishermen into each others territorial waters and their subsequent arrests has also been a perennial source of concern.
* It is feared that some at least of the arrested fishermen could be recruited by Pakistans Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) and used as agents against India and use their boats to sneak in arms, explosives and operatives into India.
* Since these boats have Indian make and registration number,indian make and registration number, they could easily evade attempts by Indian security agencies to track them.
* This is what seems to have happened when the Coast Guard let off the Kuber in which the terrorists travelled in November 2008.
* India also has Island Territories in its eastern and western seaboards viz. Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. The nature and location of these Island Territories necessitate their proper security.
* In recent years, intelligence reports have suggested that many uninhabited islands are being misused by terrorist groups and criminal gangs as transit points for smuggling arms and narcotics.
* Reports have also suggested that the Lashkare-Taiba is increasingly using the uninhabited islands off Lakshadweep as launching platforms for attacks against India.
* In addition, instances of piracy in the Malacca straits have increased manifold increasingly using the uninhabited islands off Lakshadweep as launching platforms for attacks against India. In addition, instances of piracy in the Malacca straits have increased manifold.
* The Andaman and Nicobar islands have seen large scale influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka (Tamils) Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia.
* Besides, the Indian Ocean has been theatre of intense rivalries between great powers, mostly extraregional powers.
* China, in recent years has been quite active in the Indian Ocean region. With an objective to contain its potential adversary (read India) in the region, China has helped Myanmar to construct a naval base at Haingyi and set uplistening posts in Coco Island, close to Andaman and Nicobar.
* It has also helped Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to built ports, which could be utilised by China during adverse times.
Governments Response
* Although the Indian government had been formulating various schemes for managing these diverse challenges, the concept of border management entered the government lexicon only in the wake of the Kargil conflict of 1999, and the subsequent report submitted by the Kargil Review Committee.
* Based on the recommendations of the Review Committee, in April 2001 the Government of India set up a Task Force on Border Management under the Chairmanship of Madhav Godbole.
* This Task Force was part of a Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted to review the national security system as a whole and the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee in particular.
The Task Forces objective
* To consider measures for border management and, in particular to consider the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee in this regard and formulate specific proposals for the GoMs consideration.
* The Report of the Task Force, which was presented in 2001, is the first comprehensive document on border management.
* The report observed that the countrys borders cannot be effectively managed because of certain inherent problems such as their disputed nature, artificiality and porosity, which according to it give rise to multiple problems like illegal migration, smuggling, drugs trafficking, and trans-border movement of insurgents.
* In addition, the multiplicity of forces employed to guard the same border, their repeated withdrawal from the borders for other duties, the lack of adequate infrastructure along the border, etc prevent them from efficiently guarding the border.
* The GoM broadly recommended that concerted efforts be made to settle border disputes and demarcate the borders at the earliest opportunity.
* It also recommended that a Department of Border Management be created under the Ministry of Home Affairs, which would focus solely on border issues.
* It also recommended the establishment of a marine police force, strengthening of Coast Guard and setting up of an apex institution for coordinating various maritime issues
* The Report also recommended accelerated development of infrastructure along the border, especially to wean away the border population from illegal activities.
* Government towards managing the borders has four important elements, viz. guarding, regulation, development of border areas, and constituting bilateral institutional mechanisms for resolving disputes and ironing out conflicts with neighbours.
Guarding the Borders
Beginning in 2001, different border guarding forces were deployed in different borders.
* The BSF has been assigned responsibility for the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders.
* Assam Rifles (AR) for the India-Myanmar border.
* The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) for the India-China border
* The Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB) for the India-Nepal and IndiaBhutan borders.
For managing the borders effectively, it is important to have better surveillance. Surveillance is carried out by conducting regular patrols by the border guarding personnel. Border out posts (BOP) have been set up all along the borders Government has announced its intention to create additional BOPs along the various international borders.
For securing the riverine and creek areas along the India Bangladesh and India-Pakistan borders, the water wing of the BSF is deployed In addition, several electronic surveillance equipment like Night Vision Devices, Hand Held Thermal Imagers, Battle Field Surveillance Radars, Direction Finders, Unattended Ground Sensors, High Powered Telescope, etc. are used by the border guarding forces as force multipliers for greater surveillance as force multipliers for greater surveillance.
Development of Border Areas
* Border areas remain inaccessible and underdeveloped due to difficult terrain and lack of facilities like proper roads, educational institutions, and hospitals.
* Lack of economic opportunities makes the border population more susceptible to take up smuggling and trafficking.
* Keeping in mind these problems, the union government initiated the border area development programme (BADP) in 1987 to provide adequate social and economic infrastructure, promotion of participation in development, eliminate sense of alienation, and instilling a sense of security among the border people
BADP schemes:
* Comprise of development of community-based infrastructure like forestry, pasture land, fishery ponds, floriculture parks, community centres, mobile dispensaries, mini marketing yards, etc.
* Over the years, the nature of the programme has changed from a schematic one with emphasis on education to a state-level programme with emphasis on balanced development of border areas.
* Grass root level institutions such as Panchayati Raj Institutions, District Councils/Traditional Councils are encouraged to participate in deciding the priority schemes for their areas.
Securing the Coasts and Island Territories:
For securing the coast, the government of India has implemented a three layered mechanism.
* At the outermost layer, the Indian Navy patrols the high seas and carries out aerial reconnaissance with ship-based aircraft.
* The intermediate layer comprising of the Exclusive Economic Zone (between 12 and 200 nautical miles) is patrolled by the Coast Guard.
* And the territorial waters are patrolled by the Coastal Police.
On the recommendation of the Task Force, the Indian government launched the coastal security scheme in 2005-06. The scheme envisaged, over a period of five years, the establishment of 73 coastal police stations equipped with 204 boats, 153 jeeps and 312 motor cycles for mobility on coast and in close coastal waters.
* The state governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat have made it mandatory for all the fishing vessels to install Global Positioning System (GPS) and high frequency wireless system. These equipments help the fishing vessels in ascertaining the international borders and remain within the Indian territory.
* Major ports of the country have been made International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code compliant. These ports are guarded by the CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) personnel.
* Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) and Automated Identification System (AIS) aimed at improving the security of the Port by monitoring the movement of vessels have also been installed in these ports.
* Following the Mumbai terror attacks, the government has also announced a series of measures for strengthening coastal security of the country. These include: expediting the implementation of coastal security scheme peedy delivery of 204 interceptor boats, easing of environmental norms for setting up coastal police stations, issuance of multi purpose identity cards to all fishermen, seafaring personnel and coastal villages, implementation of uniform licensing of fishing boats across the country, transponders and Global Positioning System on registered boats for identification and tracking,
* Deployment of commando units of Central Industrial Security Force in all ports,
* Constituting unified command for coastal districts to counter terrorist threats from sea.
In addition, the Defence Minister announced the setting up of Joint Operation Centres (JOCs) at Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kochi and Port Blair to enhance intelligence gathering, maritime domain awareness and coordination among various security agencies. According to the Minister, the Navy will have a new specialised force called Sagar Prahari Bal .For the security of the Island Territories, the Indian Government has set up a joint command in Andaman and Nicobar called the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) comprising personnel of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Coast Guard.
Conclusion and Recommendations:
Given the difficult terrain and complex socio-economic milieu along the borders, coupled with unhelpful neighbours, effective management of Indias international borders is quite a challenging task .Problems like smuggling, drug and human trafficking, illegal movement of people, goods, insurgents, and criminals across the border, tensions between the border guarding forces of the two countries, etc., have further added to this challenge.
Guarding:
* Identify sensitive areas along the border and increase the number of border posts in these areas.
* Also augment the strength of the border guarding personnel in sensitive border out posts.
* Train the border guarding forces and equip them with modern gadgets and weapons for better surveillance of the border.
* Install alarm systems to detect breach of fence and respond quickly.
* Ensure the availlability of adequate numbers of personnel for border guarding duties all the time.
* Improve the working and living conditions of the border guarding personnel to boost their morale.
* Ensure better coordination among all agencies involved in border management such as the border guarding forces, Customs, intelligence agencies, and state police.
* Sensitise the people living along the borders and encourage them to work as eyes and ears for the border guarding forces.
* Enlist local people in the border guarding force as they are aware of the terrain and language of the areas.
Regulation:
* Do not allow human habitation or cultivation in the intervening area between the border and the fence. They obstruct the line of vision
* Legalise trade in essential items to prevent smuggling.
* Open markets near the border where people can buy and sell goods without paying any duties Issue multipurpose identity cards to the people residing along the borders to distinguish between Indian citizens and illegal migrants.
Development:
* Work towards all round development of the border areas to wean away the border people from illegal activities as well as to dispel the feeling of alienation in them.
* Ensure greater participation of the border population in their economic development.
Bilateral mechanisms:
* Strengthen bilateral mechanisms by frequently convening meetings of concerned officials to iron out tensions as well as to resolve border disputes.
Coastal Security:
* As far as coastal security is concerned, while the government has initiated a number of schemes to safeguard the creek and coastal areas, many areas of concern still remain
* A major challenge for the border guarding forces is the widening gap between the sanctioned and existing infrastructureand manpower.
* Delays in the release of funds by the government hinder their efforts to strengthen their capabilities. Address manpower shortage for the coastal police by recruiting retired Coast Guard and Navy personnel.
* Enlist people from coastal villages in the Coastal Police Force. Their seafaring experience is likely to be an asset
* Consider incentives such as special allowances and as special allowances and insurance to overcome the reluctance of police personnel to carry out coastal patrolling.
* Impart extensive and specialised training to the Coastal Police personnel to change their indifferent attitude towards coastal security.
* Impose steep fines on fishermen found violating the international boundary. On repeated violation, cancel the licences of offending fishing boats Impart extensive and specialised training to the Coastal Police personnel to change their indifferent attitude towards coastal security.
* Impose steep fines on fishermen found violating the international boundary. On repeated violation, cancel the licences of offending fishing boats licences of offending fishing boats
REFERENCE:
1)INDIAS BORDER MANAGEMENT BY IDSA(Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
New Delhi)
2)HOME MINISTRY REPORT
B.Udhayakumar
