Bordering people citizen of nowhere

  Statement

We came to know through media reports that the Government of India’s allocation meant for border area development for last six years has been unutilized by the Government of West Bengal. During the meeting with states to assess the development works along the international border of the country; it was came to light that the government of West Bengal failed to utilize the amount marked for development of Indo- Bangladesh bordering areas lie within West Bengal state. The amount is nearly 31crore and with state coffer from 2006 onward and unspent. 5 % of the total amount is earmarked for training related to alternative employment for the populace of the area. It was also unspent.

Defying the approach of comprehensive development for people living along the Indo- Bangladesh border, the governments and Border Security Force; the bordering guards, are always justifying their acts of indiscriminate use of force and firearms on the pretext of growing cross border smuggling and related activities.

Banglar Manabadhikar Surakksha Mancha (MASUM) pinpoints the overall underdevelopment of the area and made several demands regarding for employment, health and educational rights of the people. We also experienced the gravity of unemployment and lack of opportunities to sustain; driving a section of populace towards illegal smuggling and other such acts. We also tried to focus on perennial problems of starvation and river erosion throughout the area. We have tried to make the policymakers accountable to these lasting problems of the populace but unheeded and unattended. We made demands for infrastructural development of the area to check ongoing river erosions, but it was before deaf ears. While there is some better senses prevail for the policymakers, we also demand for all along development planning of the area with active cooperation from civil society partners and immediate restrain from savage use of force and arms upon the marginalized populace who are deprived off the constitutional right of life with dignity by the government and its machineries. 

--
Kirity Roy
Secretary
Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha
(MASUM)
&
National Convenor (PACTI)
Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity
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