NEW DELHI, July 9 -- Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said India is working towards developing one of the world's most sophisticated border security systems based on the concept of 'Smart Borders' and reaffirmed the government's commitment to making the country infiltration-free through a comprehensive and proactive security strategy.

Addressing the Border District Superintendents of Police Conference-2026 in New Delhi, Shah said the meeting had evolved an integrated approach to border management and that similar plans would also be prepared to strengthen security along India's coastline.

The Home Minister said the government is developing a four-tier security grid comprising border guarding forces, state government agencies, the Centre and local communities. "A secure nation means secure borders, prosperous border villages and an empowered and vigilant border population," he said.

Highlighting the government's achievements, Shah said India has made significant progress in tackling terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in the Northeast and Left Wing Extremism. He expressed confidence that concrete steps would be taken to dismantle the narcotics mafia within the next three years.

Shah said the government is creating a comprehensive mechanism to prevent infiltration and protect the country's borders, adding that unlike previous governments, the present dispensation was addressing issues at their roots.

He said border infrastructure has expanded by nearly 400 per cent in recent years and highlighted the Vibrant Village Programme, aimed at preventing migration from border areas, creating employment opportunities and ensuring effective implementation of welfare schemes.

Referring to the recently launched Demography Mission, Shah said it would study abnormal demographic changes and their causes, including illegal infiltration, and help formulate policy responses. He also announced that a 1,610-km fence would be built along the India-Myanmar border at an estimated cost of Rs 31,000 crore.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.