Need to build infrastructure in border areas: RSS

By Vishav

Vrindavan, Sep 3 (IANS) The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has called for better infrastructure in the border areas to effectively counter any security threat from neighbouring countries.

The issue came up during its three-day coordination meeting at Vrindavan which concluded on Sunday.

A senior RSS leader present during the meeting told IANS that the organisation regularly takes up the issue of external and internal security in many of its meetings "irrespective of which party is in power at the centre".

However this time, due to the Doklam issue, some of the RSS affiliates working in the border areas expressed concern and said there is a need for developing infrastructure including roads.

"China has been building roads near the borders for years. Our government is working on that front as well," he said.

Senior RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya also highlighted the need to build infrastructure in border villages, although focusing on health and employment.

"Apart from the Border Security Force personnel, there are also people living in the border villages. If they don't have access to education and employment, they would start departing from there" which would be detrimental to India's interests, he said.

Vaidya added that it wasn't just the responsibility of the government but the society also needed to contribute.

"Many of our (RSS) organisations are working on this front and they shared about their work during the meeting," he said.