 BORDER AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

12.1 Under the Border Area Development Programme for the border States of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, a provision of Rs.200 crores was made in the Seventh Five Year an. The programme was implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs during the 1986-87, but was transferred to the Department of Education from the year 1987- 88. It is intended that the programme would henceforth be confined to Education, which is a critical input for the development of border areas. The emphasis is laid on over-all human resource development. The efforts under this programme are a supplement to the State. Educational Development Programmes, including those that may be taken up under the NREP, RLEGP, IRD and Desert Development Programme. For the year 1987-88, an allocation of Rs.25 crores was made available for this programme. During 1988-89, a budget provision of Rs. 35.50 crores has been made.

12.2 For implementing the programme, the Department of Education formulated guideline and circulated them to the Border States. They were requested to send their proposals according to these guidelines. A sanctioning Committee under the Chairmanship of Union Education Secretary has been set up with representatives from the Planning Commission, the State Governments and the concerned Ministries to clear the proposals of the States promptly.

12.3 As recommended by the Sanctioning Committee, administrative approvals for the various programmes/activities amounting to Rs.36.53 crores were conveyed to the State Government and the entire budget provision of Rs.25 crores was released to them during 1987-88. During 1988-89, administrative approvals have been accorded by the Sanctioning Committee for the various activities amounting to Rs. 40.93 crores and an amount of Rs. 23.12 crores has been released to the State Govts., till 30.11.88. The following table given the Statewise position of administrative approvals accorded and amounts released till the end of November, 1988.

                                          
        Name of the              Administrative          Amount Released
        State                 Approvals Accorded 
                              1987-88      1988-89        1987-88     1988-89   
                                         (Till                      (Till
                                          30.11.88)                  30.11.88)
                                          
        
        Gujarat             385.71         296.16         355.69       115.34
        
        Punjab              859.45         912.12         523.95       490.42
        
        Rajasthan           849.91        1032.64         738.17       536.44
        
        Jammu & Kashmir    1558.19        1852.00         882.19       1170.00
                                          
        
                           3653.26        4092.92        2500.00       2312.20

12.4 The State Governments have been authorised to carry forward unspent balances out of amounts released in 1987-88 till 31.12.88.

12.5 The Sanctioning Committee has already met five times during the current financial year. Progress of expenditure and physical achievements have been reviewed in these meetings. It has been found that all the States have started implementing the programme in an enthusiastic manner. Construction activities are in progress. Purchases of tools and equipment have commenced too. Additional teachers are in position. Stated have also been adviced to prepare perspective black plans simultaneously so that crderly development of education is brought about in the border areas. Fresh proposals have been approved limiting the allocation of funds to Rs. 50 lakhs per block.

12.6 The National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration had organised a workshop on 19-21 September, 1988, for formulating norms and guidelines for preparation of block development plans and for monitoring and evaluation of the programme in border areas. Concerned Officers of 4 border States participated in the workshop.