Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki is exercised about the migration of tribal people living in areas along the state’s international border. The border includes 1080 Km of the Chinese boundary. The migration is caused by lure of better developed areas. This results in strategic centres on the AP border remaining unpopulated. The state government has pressed the Centre for more funds to finance development programmes. It has been trying to provide basic services but there are deficiencies. The CM said all this in front of Union Defence Miniter A.K. Antony. Tuki also pointed out in a memorandum that there were 22 administrative centres close to the international border with very poor connectivity. Besides, he expressed concern over the food security of the people in the remote and scattered habitations along the border. The food grains provided under the Public Distribution System do not reach the people.
Arunachal Pradesh shares a border with China, Myanmar and Bhutan. Ten of the 12 districts on the border are along the Chinese Line of Actual Control. About 3 lakh people inhabit these border districts. The size of the population does not matter nor does the number of people leaving these districts. The creation of a no man’s land on the border makes the state vulnerable especially because of the presence of Chinese forces who often foray into Arunachal territory, claiming possession. Besides, it is not clear why the area on the other side of the border is so alluring to the inhabitants of Arunachal border districts. The Chinese border zone cannot have the glitter that former West Berlin had for the people of East Berlin.