There is widespread feeling that some of the important policy guidelines have been violated in Ladakh and this could lead to increasing alienation of people
INDIA has a vast border area with several neighbouring countries and people there face several difficulties and risks. The government recognises this and has launched several programmes and schemes for them. Armed forces posted in border areas have often been very helpful to the locals in difficult conditions including floods and landslides.
A strong emotional connect with people of border areas is also needed, and national leaders have also responded to this. A recent statement of a villager of Uttarakhand, living very close to the China border reported in newspapers, vividly brings out their need as well as appreciation of such support. This villager stated that he has been brought up in an area which was officially mentioned as India’s last village. However, recently there was a change and instead his village is now being called India’s first village. This simple change, he stated, had come as a big emotional support for him and his neighbours in the middle of several problems and strengthened their emotional connect.
While one should appreciate such thoughtful initiatives of national leaders, at the same time we’ll be failing in our duty if we do not make efforts to check at an early stage any alienation being caused in any border areas by unfortunate statements or actions. Please remember that it is easy to cause alienation with arrogant actions, but once the harm is done, it takes a lot of effort to remove this alienation and restore trust and confidence.
It is in this wider context that there is urgent need for a lot of caution regarding any statements or policy decisions regarding Ladakh. However, before coming to this, let me make a broader comment on what the policy for border areas should involve to truly protect national and security interests from a broader and longer-term perspective.
Broadly this should be based on six inter-related guidelines. Firstly, there should be a lot of emphasis on protecting national security. Secondly, all care should be taken to avoid increasing the distress, problems and self-respect of people in any way, and similarly anything perceived as disruption of livelihoods, culture and environment should be avoided. Thirdly, efforts should be made to involve the local people in decision-making so that a consensus can be reached for evolving a balance with mutual cooperation in which national security interests are well protected and local livelihoods and cultural norms are well protected.
The fourth and closely related aspect is that local autonomous and representative organisations should have a biggest say in promoting local livelihood, environmental and cultural concerns, with the government extending generous budgetary support, as long as no national security interests are violated. Fifthly, the government’s right to curb the role of foreign interests and money particularly in border areas should be accepted and respected. Last but not the least, big business interests which act arrogantly and boasting their connections should be avoided in border areas, and even if they come in, they should not be allowed to harm the interests of local people in any way.
If these precepts are followed, there will be no alienation of local people who will prosper and there will be widespread feeling among them that their economic interests, culture, self-respect and overall future are secure, and their emotional connect with the country will be strengthened too.
Whenever these precepts are followed, the links of the people of border areas with the entire country are strengthened. When these are violated, these links are weakened. This has been seen time and again, in India as well in other countries.
It is in this wider context that the situation in Ladakh region should be seen in recent times. There is widespread feeling that some of the important policy guidelines stated above have been violated there and this could lead to increasing alienation of people. There is need to be highly respectful towards the people of Ladakh as well as towards persons among them who are highly respected and have a large following. There is need for listening to and responding to the feelings, grievances and aspirations of people in more sensitive and helpful ways. There is absolutely no room for arrogance or misuse of authority.
While all this is particularly important in Ladakh just now, this is also important and highly relevant at a wider level for all border areas.
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Bharat Dogra writes extensively on environment, development and welfare issues. The views expressed here are the writer’s own, and Clarion India does not necessarily subscribe to them. He can be reached at: bharatdogra1956@gmail.com
