India Myanmar Border Management

India Myanmar Border Management

1. Smart Border Fencing Implementation:

• Initiation: Central government orders for Smart Border Fencing along an additional 300 km.
• Trigger: Ethnic conflicts in Manipur (May 2023), leading to over 100 deaths and displacement.
• Progress: Pilot project completion (10 km), additional orders for 80 km, total Smart Border Fencing covering 390 km.

2. Border Overview Data:

• Total Border Length: India and Myanmar share a land border of 1,643 km.
• Demarcation Completion: 1,472 km as per Home Ministry’s 2022-23 annual report.
• Strategic Importance: Myanmar acts as a gateway to Southeast Asia.

3. Infrastructure Projects Data:

• Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport: Links Kolkata to Sittwe in Myanmar and connects to India’s northeast.
• Asian Trilateral Highway: Joint project with Myanmar and Thailand, boosting trade in ASEAN-India Free Trade Area.

4. Smart Border Fencing Data:

• About Smart Fence Project:
  • A technological advancement combining physical barriers, sensors, cameras, and communication systems.
  • Effective monitoring and response to border threats.
• Devices Used:
  • Sensors include thermal imagers, underground sensors, fiber optical sensors, radar, and sonar.
  • Mounted on platforms like aerostat, tower, and poles for round-the-clock surveillance in various weather conditions.
• Other Projects:
  • India-Pakistan Border: Smart fence pilot project (2018).
  • India-Bangladesh Border: BOLD-QIT project (2019).

5. Border Management Challenges Data:

• Illegal Immigrants:
  • UNHCR estimates 22,000 refugees entered India from Myanmar since February 2021.
  • Demographic imbalance and law and order disturbances due to illegal migration.
• Drug Abuse from Golden Triangle:
  • Myanmar part of Golden Triangle, the second-largest opium production region globally.
  • Flow of drugs facilitated by the porous border.
• Interlinkage Between Drug Traffickers and Insurgent Groups:
  • 500 cases registered, 625 individuals arrested under NDPS Act in Manipur (2022).
  • Drug trade financing insurgent groups in Northeast.

6. Human Trafficking Data:

• Exploitation Factors:
  • Instability, turmoil, and internal power struggles in Myanmar.
  • More than 400 Indian men stuck in fraudulent IT jobs in Myanmar.
  • Children used as couriers for transporting illegal substances.

7. Free Movement Regime (FMR) Data:

• Initiation and Resurgence:
  • Initiated in 1970, resurgence in 2016 as part of Act East Policy.
  • Allows individuals within a 16 km radius to traverse freely without visas.
  • Border pass issued by competent authority valid for one year.

8. Border Management Interventions Data:

• Government Schemes:
  • Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM) Scheme.
  • Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS).
  • Border Area Development Programme (BADP).
  • Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP).

9. Way Forward Data:

• Round the Clock Border Guarding:
  • Deployment of a regular Border Guarding force for continuous vigilance.
• Border Infrastructure Creation:
  • Creation of composite Border Observation Posts (BOPs), Border Road, and Obstacle System.
• Separation of Patrolling and Security Functions:
  • Proposal to separate patrolling and security functions, deploying dedicated forces.
• Strengthening Legal Frameworks:
  • Improved coordination between India and Myanmar’s law enforcement agencies.
• Rehabilitation:
  • Alongside rescue efforts, psychological evaluation, and treatment for victims.
• Increased Collaboration:
  • Enhanced collaboration between border control agencies through direct communication channels.
• Awareness Creation:
  • Border guarding forces promoting a sense of security among the border population.
• Bilateral Institutional Mechanisms:
  • Periodic revision of institutional mechanisms with Myanmar to adapt to changing dynamics.

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