Border Fence Shift Brings Major Relief, Punjab Farmers Set To Reclaim Fields Without Daily Restrictions

For years, farming along Punjab’s international border has been filled with stress rather than routine work. Large portions of fertile land lie beyond the border fencing, even though the land is well inside India. Farmers had to carry identity cards every day and wait for permission to cross the fence. They could only reach their own fields under BSF escort. Any delay meant missed irrigation, late harvesting, or crop damage. This system made normal farming almost impossible. Many farmers felt punished for living near the border. The hardship slowly affected income, morale, and crop planning.

What Did The Chief Minister Demand?

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann raised the issue directly with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. Mann clearly stated that security should not come at the cost of farmers’ dignity. He explained how fencing placed deep inside Punjab’s territory has created daily suffering. He demanded that the fence be shifted closer to the International Border. The Home Minister informed him that the demand is under active consideration. He also indicated that the fence would be moved without weakening national security.

How Big Is The Border Farming Problem?

Punjab shares a 532-kilometre-long border with Pakistan. In many locations, the border fence is positioned two to three kilometres inside Punjab instead of near the Zero Line. This has left thousands of acres of agricultural land outside the fence. Farmers legally own this land but cannot access it freely. Entire villages depend on these fields for survival. Over time, productivity dropped because access was limited. Once the fence is realigned, these lands will come back on the accessible side. This change will immediately expand cultivable area without any land acquisition.

What Will Change For Farmers Now?

If the fence is shifted, farmers will be able to go to their fields like any other cultivator in Punjab. There will be no daily identity checks and no armed escorts. Farmers can work according to crop needs, not security schedules. Activities like spraying, irrigation, and harvesting will become timely and efficient. This will directly improve yields and reduce losses. Farmers will also feel mentally free, no longer working under constant supervision. The decision restores normal farming life to border villages.

Has This Been Tried Before?

According to the Chief Minister, similar fencing realignment has already been implemented in Pathankot. That experience showed that security and farming can coexist. Mann argued that smart border management is possible without troubling civilians. He said Punjab’s farmers are partners in national food security, not a risk. The Centre’s willingness to consider wider realignment has raised hopes across the border belt. Farmers now expect the model to be extended to other districts as well.

What Other Issues Were Raised In Delhi?

During the meeting, CM Mann also flagged several pending issues affecting Punjab. These included objections to the proposed Seeds Bill 2025, the unresolved SYL canal dispute, and slow foodgrain movement by the Food Corporation of India. He also raised concerns over frozen Arthia commission rates and non-payment of RDF and mandi funds. Mann said these delays are hurting farmers and rural infrastructure. The Union Home Minister assured that these matters would be examined seriously.

What Does This Decision Mean For Punjab?

For border farmers, the proposed fence shift is more than a policy move. It is a return of control over their own land. It removes fear, delay, and daily humiliation from farming life. If implemented soon, it will boost farm income and confidence in border areas. The decision also sends a strong message that farmer issues are being heard at the highest level. Punjab now awaits action on the ground. For thousands of farmers, hope has finally replaced uncertainty.