Dehradun : Taking up the cause of people living close to India-China border in Uttarakhand with the Centre, Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Tuesday demanded formulation of a policy which paves the way for a member each from every family dependent on agriculture in paramilitary forces.
In a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Mr Rawat said a policy appointing one member each from all families living by farming in Uttarakhand villages bordering China in the paramilitary forces should soon be laid down besides giving a boost to communication and transportation systems in border areas of the state.
Mr Rawat also demanded a bonus of 40 per cent on local products from border areas saying measures like these will help stop migration from there in search of livelihood.
Noting that residents of remote villages bordering China play an important role in alerting the Indian Army and ITBP outposts in case of a dubious movement of troops across the border, Mr Rawat said their continued migration in the absence of basic facilities must be stopped.
Welfare measures like these can have a far reaching impact on the current scenario, Mr Rawat said and submitted an economic development agenda for stopping migration from border villages which include boosting of communication systems, mobile services, construction of helipads, 40 per cent bonus on the sale of locally produced handicrafts and appointment of one member each from every family doing farming in the strategic areas in the para-military forces.
He said the state government is exploring whether it can provide quota to members of such families in the homeguards and police.
Mr Rawat also proposed inclusion of Ghansali area of Tehri district, Lohaghat and Champawat areas of Champawat district and Khatima in Udhamsingh Nagar under the ambit of border areas.