Announcing the 2009-10 Union Budget, Mukherjee said the government had earmarked an additional sum of Rs 2,284 crore, over and above the provision made in the interim budget announced earlier this year, for carrying out infrastructure projects in the border areas. This would include construction and maintenance of roads in remote and inaccessible areas, fencing of international boundaries, installation of flood lights, setting up of more border outposts and procurement of high-tech surveillance and communication equipment for border guards.

The areas along Bangladesh and China borders have got specific attention, and allocations for both have been more than doubled. While Rs 1076.23 crore has been allocated for carrying out these projects along the Bangladesh border, Rs 315 crore have been earmarked for similar work along the China border.

Allocations for Pakistan and Myanmar border have also been increased substantially.

Coastal security: Following last November’s terror attacks in Mumbai, which had exposed the vulnerability of India’s coastline, the government has embarked upon a major programme to strengthen security along the sea-shore. The government has earmarked Rs 187 crore for buying patrolling boats, setting up coastal police stations and similar works under this scheme.

Police modernisation: To help states upgrade their police forces, the government has made an additional provision of Rs 430 crore, which will be used to fund the various schemes under which the Centre disburses grants to the states for police modernisation.

Unique Identification Authority (UID): Having appointed former Infosys chief Nandan Nilekani as the head of the UID authority, the government has took another step towards implementing this ambitious programme. It allocated Rs 120 crore to fund the project which aims at identifying and providing unique identification number to all the intended beneficiaries of government’s social schemes. “This project is very close to my heart,” said Mukherjee in his budget speech. “I am happy to note that this project also marks the beginning of an era where the top private sector talent in India steps forward to take the responsibility for implementing projects of vital national importance,” he said in an obvious reference to the appointment of Nilekani. Mukherjee said the first unique identity numbers would be rolled out in the next 12 to 18 months.

Paramilitary forces: The budget brought some cheers to the nearly 5.5 lakh strong central paramilitary forces. The government agreed to one of their long-pending demands, especially by CRPF and BSF, to give special risk/hardship allowance at par with the defence forces for carrying out duties in areas like Jammu and Kashmir and the North-east. The government has also proposed a massive housing programme for personnel serving in para-military forces, promising to build one lakh homes in the next one year.

Chidambaram hails budget: Home Minister P Chidambaram gave a big thumbs-up to the budget, saying it would stimulate the economy and put the country firmly back on the high growth path. Chidambaram said the primacy accorded to programmes of infrastructure building like Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, National Highways Development Programme, Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme etc were the high points of the budget. The former finance minister also hailed “innovative” ideas like switching to the nutrient-based fertilizer subsidy directly to the farmer and the introduction of a National Food Security Act.