The Centre has received
proposals from 21 State Governments so far for allocation of funds
under the Scheme of Modernization of State Police Forces during
the current financial year. These proposals have been considered
by the Empowered Committee of Ministry of Home Affairs. Release
of funds to the States will be subject to utilization of funds
released during the last two years and in accordance with the
schematic guidelines. Central assistance to 10 State Governments
has already been released and to the remaining ones, the fund
is being released shortly. The proposals received from the State
Governments from time to time for revalidation of funds released
earlier have been approved and communicated to the States. This
was stated by the Minister for State for Home, Shri I.D. Swami
in the Lok Sabha today. He said there is no proposal before the
Central Government to raise any national level police force to
combat riots and terrorism.
The Government
of India had enhanced the central annual allocation to Rs.1000
crore from 2000-01 under the Scheme of Modernization of State
Police Forces and the items eligible for assistance under the
Scheme include inter-alia communication equipment and equipment
for intelligence gathering. The State Governments have been procuring
these items including the North-Eastern States by including necessary
proposal under the Scheme. One of the basic objectives of raising
the Central annual allocation under the Scheme and for including
items mentioned herein is to equip the State Police Forces adequately
so that the threat to internal security coming from terrorism/militancy
etc. could be better managed by the States. In addition, the Central
Government provide assistance in kind to the North-eastern States
under a special scheme to modernize their police forces and one
of the items included in that scheme is modern communication equipment.
Moreover, periodic review meetings are convened for better coordination
and sharing of intelligence among State Police Forces and Intelligence
agencies.
