Under the MPF scheme, provision has been made for law & order, internal security, adoption of modern technology by police, assisting states and union territories for narcotics control.
It also aims to “strengthen the criminal justice system by developing a robust forensic set-up in India”. Central government will provide Rs 4,846 crore to modernize state police forces.
Objectives
The objective of the scheme is to gradually reduce the dependence of the State Governments on the Army and the Central Armed Police Forces to control internal security and law and order situations by equipping the State Police Forces adequately and strengthening their training infrastructure.
The focus of the scheme is to strengthen police infrastructure at cutting edge level by construction of secure police stations, training centres, police housing (residential), equipping the police stations with the required mobility, modern weaponry, communication equipment and forensic set-up etc.
Components
The items required by the State Police under the components, ‘mobility’, ‘weapons’, ‘equipment’, ‘training equipment’, ‘forensic equipment’, etc. shall be funded under ‘Non-Plan’.
The construction / upgradation of police stations / outposts, police lines, police housing, construction of forensic science laboratories and training infrastructure (buildings) shall be funded under ‘Plan’ components of MPF
Funding Pattern
Under the Scheme, the States are grouped into two categories, namely Category ‘A’ and Category ‘B’ for the purpose of funding both under ‘Non-Plan’ and Plan. Category ‘A’ States, namely, J&K and 8 North Eastern States including Sikkim will be eligible to receive financial assistance on 90:10 Centre: State sharing basis.
The remaining States will be in Category ‘B’ and will be eligible for financial assistance on 60:40 Centre: State sharing basis.
Integration of Police Stations
Under this scheme, Police Stations are being integrated to set up a national data base of crime and criminals’ records.
They are also being linked with other pillars of criminal justice system like prisons, prosecution offices and forensic science laboratories.
It also provided for setting up of a State-of Art forensic science laboratory at Amravati in Andhra Pradesh as well as upgradation of Sardar Patel Global Centre for Security, Gujarat Forensic Science University in Gandhi Nagar and Counter Terrorism & Anti Insurgency in Jaipur.
Recent news:
Govt approves Rs 26,275 crore plan for police modernisation; Rs 18,000 crore fixed for security expenditure in J&K, NorthEast
THE GOVERNMENT has approved the umbrella scheme of modernisation of police force for the next five years with a financial outlay of Rs 26,275 crore. More than Rs 18,000 crore of this money will go towards security related expenditure in Jammu and Kashmir, Left Wing Extremism areas and the Northeast.
“The approval for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26, moves forward the initiative of the Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah to modernise and improve the functioning of Police Forces of States and Union Territories. This scheme comprises all relevant sub-schemes that contribute to modernization and improvement,” a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) statement said.
According to MHA, under the five-year plan, provision has been made for internal security, law and order, adoption of modern technology by police, assisting states for narcotics control and strengthening the criminal justice system by developing a robust forensic set-up in the country.
“The scheme for modernization of state police forces has a Central outlay of Rs 4,846 crore,” the statement said.
The approval includes central outlay of Rs 2,080 crore “to develop operationally independent and high-quality forensic sciences facilities in States/Union Territories for aiding scientific and timely investigation through modernization of resources”.
Incidentally, in the 2022-23 Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the central outlay for “Modernisation of Forensic Capacities” in the coming FY alone is Rs 8,976 crore.
The MHA said a central outlay of Rs 18,839 crore has been earmarked for security related expenditure for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir, insurgency affected North Eastern States and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas.
“With the implementation of ‘National Policy and Action Plan’ for combating LWE, the LWE violence incidents have come down drastically. To further pursue this accomplishment, six LWE-related schemes with Central outlay of Rs.8,689 crore have been approved.
These schemes include Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Most LWE Affected Districts & Districts of Concern to consolidate the gains,” the statement said.