In the State Budget for 2021-22 FY presented in the Assembly on Wednesday a provision has been kept under which three villages will be developed in Eastern, Central and Western part of Arunachal Pradesh along the international border with an allocation of Rs 30 crore. Needs no reiteration that for making the state’s border areas more liveable that will arrest the trend of inward migration towards towns for very basic needs and in the long term for contributing towards reinforcing the territorial integrity, the initiative is very essential. There is also no need to resort to any geo-political discourse in the step’s justification since it's proven fact that an empty space is more susceptible for easy encroachment than the one having human habitats. The reasoning is more true as China, coming as a great geographical misfortune for Arunachal, is its immediate neighbour and an appropriate title, if any, can only be ‘land shark’, a term frequently used while talking about the promoters who have overwhelming presence in the urban India of today. Across the border, as various international media reports suggest, there are war-like activities in terms of physical infra development such as roads, bridges, internet connectivity. They do have a purpose and it’s not entirely civic-centric and meant exclusively for the civilians there. The larger aim is to create superior vantage points to carry out all sorts of anti-Indian activities. To negate this, the same tactic ought to be followed by India.

It can be recalled that a few months ago while speaking at a seminar titled ‘Evolving security challenges in the Northeast and Way Forward’, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General MM Naravane openly remarked how essential it is to make the Northeast robust in terms of infrastructure for matching China’s increasing might. There was also a national uproar over the recent encroachment in Upper Subansiri district by the neighbour that came through media revelations and although differences of opinion followed over the exact chronology of the event, for the state and the country, it’s nothing less than living on the edge. The 1962 Indo-China war pointed out the need for strengthening Arunachal’s borders with the neighbour and it is most strange that the opposite has happened since then. By now China is more stronger, both militarily and economically and hence the bullying attitude and India is the principal recipient. The Central government must realise this great fault and be large-hearted for Arunachal through steps that will ensure adequate protection of its international borders. It’s time to go pre-emptive and doing it fast is the only choice left.

While the state budget has kept the provisions in this regard, the Centre must do more with constant review of the evolving needs.