Shwait Malik raises border issues in RS

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 27

State BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Shwait Malik voiced the difficulties being faced by farmers and small traders living close to the Indo-Pakistan border in Punjab in Parliament.

He said just as the Army and BSF fight for the nation on the border, similarly the farmers and small traders living near the border have to fight to maintain their daily livelihood.

He said: “They have to go away from home to work for their daily livelihood, despite being a heavy need for employment close to their houses. When anyone falls ill in these areas, the healthcare facilities are miles away from their homes. These border villages do not even have dispensaries. The children living in these villages have to travel far to study as there are no places close to their home for study and schools are very much needed for these children.

Malik said that in the past, when there was an atmosphere of tension between the two countries, he visited the border areas and was surprised to see the enthusiasm of people there.

Malik thanked the AB Vajpayee government and the present Modi government for providing aid to the affected areas under the Border Area Development Fund.

Malik alleged that most of this fund was being invested by the local administration under pressure of the legislators in the urban areas along the border where the population was more and doing this was absolutely wrong.

He demanded separate allocation of funds for 5-km of area along the border, so the development of people living in villages adjoining border could also take place.