Border Security – Amit Shah Reviews Measures for India’s Border Districts
Border Security – Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired a conference of superintendents of police from 119 districts located along India’s international borders, reviewing steps being taken to strengthen security coordination and infrastructure in sensitive regions.
The meeting focused on challenges linked to illegal entry, drug smuggling, organised crime, radicalisation and demographic changes in border areas. Shah said the Centre was working towards a stronger and more coordinated system to make the country free from infiltration.
Strengthening the Border Security Framework
Addressing the officers, Shah said the conference would help identify gaps in the existing border security arrangement and develop practical policy responses. He said the government was bringing together border guarding forces, district administrations, state governments, central agencies and local communities to create a more effective security network.
According to Shah, the proposed framework is based on a four-layered approach involving security agencies, government institutions and citizens living in border regions. He said the government’s long-term aim was to build a Smart Border system equipped to respond to emerging risks.
He added that border security would also be strengthened along coastal areas in the coming years through a broader and more integrated approach.
Focus on Demographic Mission
Shah referred to the government’s Demography Mission, which has been launched to study population growth caused by what he described as abnormal factors. He said the initiative would examine such trends and recommend measures to address them in the future.
The Home Minister said the government was committed to preventing demographic changes arising from unlawful or irregular circumstances. He said the mission would help authorities better understand the issue and formulate suitable administrative measures.
Vibrant Villages Programme for Border Regions
Highlighting development initiatives in remote border areas, Shah said the government was working to improve living conditions under the Vibrant Villages Programme. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had described villages located at the country’s edge as “first villages” rather than last villages.
The programme aims to reduce migration from border regions by creating employment opportunities, improving public services and ensuring that welfare schemes reach eligible residents. Shah said stronger local development was essential for improving security and stability in frontier districts.
Infrastructure and Security Investments
Shah said border infrastructure had expanded significantly in recent years, claiming that development work in this sector had increased by 400 per cent under the present government. He said better roads, communication facilities and security installations were important for faster response and effective monitoring.
He also announced that the government was fencing the 1,610-kilometre India-Myanmar border at an estimated cost of Rs 31,000 crore. The project is intended to address concerns related to illegal infiltration, narcotics movement, smuggling and other cross-border activities.
Campaign Against Narcotics and Organised Crime
The Home Minister said the government was pursuing a sustained campaign against narcotics trafficking and expressed confidence that major progress would be achieved within the next three years. He said drug networks posed a serious threat to young people, public safety and national security.
Shah said the government’s broader objectives included tackling proxy warfare, drone threats, cybercrime, organised crime and radicalisation. He added that the strategy also aimed to make border areas safer and more liveable while preventing migration caused by lack of opportunities.
He said a secure border, prosperous border communities and an alert society were all necessary for India’s long-term security and development.