Question : ACTIVITIES UNDER BADP

(a) whether the Government is implementing the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) under the guidelines of the Planning Commission;

(b) if so, the details of activities being undertaken under the programme;

(c) the target set and achieved so far under the scheme, State-wise;

(d) the number of programmes approved and forwarded by State Level Screening Committees of different Border States;

(e) the allocations made and funds released during the last three years under the plan;

(f) whether the people affected by cross border firing, militancy, and other such activities are covered therein; and

(g) if so, the details and the assistance provided to such people?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN)

(a) & (b): Government of India has been implementing a Border Area Development Programme (BADP) through the State Governments as a part of a comprehensive approach to Border Management. The Guidelines of the Programme has been framed in consultation with the Planning Commission and respective State Governments. The developmental activities under BADP relate to social infrastructure, link roads, employment generation, education, health, agriculture and allied sectors. The funds are provided to the States as a 100% non-lapsable Central grant for supplementing the State efforts. The objective of BADP is to meet the special developmental needs of the people living in remote and inaccessible areas situated near the international land border and to saturate the border areas with basic essential infrastructure through the convergence of Central/State/BADP/Local schemes and participatory approach.

(c) to (e): The financial targets, allocation and release of funds to the States for undertaking the developmental activities in the identified border blocks under BADP is fixed by Government of India. During the last three years the budgetary allocation under BADP was Rs. 635 crore each during the years 2008-09 and 2009-10 and Rs. 691 crore during 2010-11 and the entire amount was released to the State Governments as detailed in the Statement at annexure-II. State Governments undertake developmental activities under this programme in various sectors namely: (i) Roads (ii) Education (iii) Social infrastructure (iv) Agriculture (v) Health (vi) Power (vii) Security and other allied sectors. The schemes/projects in these sectors are formulated by the State Governments in consultation with the district Planning Authorities and Panchayati Raj Institutions and approved by the State Level Screening Committee (SLSC) headed by the Chief Secretary of the State. The amount utilized by the State Governments in various sectors under the BADP during the years 2008-09 to 2010-11 is given in the statement enclosed as annexure-I. State-wise financial allocation, release and utilization of funds by the 17 border States under BADP during each of the last three years is enclosed as annexure-II.

(f) & (g): There are no specific guidelines in BADP to grant individual benefits. However, the schemes/projects implemented under BADP are targeted to meet special developmental needs of communities living in remote and inaccessible areas situated at international borders who might be affected by cross border firing, militancy and other such activities.