The Union Cabinet has taken an important decision to further strengthen security along the Indo-China border (LAC). Under it, creation of new seven battalions of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and one local headquarters has been approved. The initiative was to be approved in the cabinet meeting held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The first line of security along India’s China border is manned by ITBP personnel. For some time now, there has been a clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. And the work of tent villages and infrastructure on the border with China is going on very fast. So this decision will strengthen the security of the Government of India.
ITBP jawans have to stay overnight here for almost the whole year. So it will be easier to provide more comfort and training to the jawans after the new recruits. In January 2020 ITBP got permission to set up 47 border posts and 12 camps. His work is going fast. ITBP will now have 7 new battalions, 9400 new posts and a local headquarters. The work of which will be completed by 2025-26.
- What is ITBP
Indo-Tibet Border Police which is a paramilitary force. Which was established on 24 octo 1964. The Indo-Tibetan Board of Police was formed after the Indo-China War of 1962. The force protects the 3,488km long Line of Actual Control from Karakoram in Ladakh to Joseph La in Arunachal Pradesh. This force of 90,000 soldiers performs duty along with the army.
Rs 4800 crores have also been approved under the Vibrant Village program in the cabinet meeting. 2500 crore rupees will be spent on road construction. The strategic importance of that country’s northern border is essential. Keeping in view the all-weather connectivity of Ladakh, Sanku Tanal has also been approved. Once this tunnel is built at a height of 16,703 feet, Ladakh will be connected to Himalayan region via Manali, so that in case of any emergency in the Kargil or Siachen sectors, the Indian Army can easily reach the soldiers and equipment.
- Vibrant village program
The program is well suited for infrastructure development in Indian villages bordering China. It includes 2,966 villages in 19 districts of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Shikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Plans for road construction will be implemented on a strategic basis in all these villages. This entire scheme is called the Border Area Development Program and its cost will be borne by the Central Government.
Union Budget 2022-23 Vibrant Village program was started.
Some villages in Ladakh such as that in Changthang region can be turned into a “dark sky destination” that could attract astronomy enthusiasts.
In the vibrant village program related to livelihood generation, road connectivity, housing, rural infrastructure, renewable energy, television and broadband connections should be undertaken, the official started.
Particularly those located on the zero border like Chumar and Demchok should be electrified in order to stop migration of people from these areas.