M A I N   N E W S

New Central scheme for state police
S. Satyanarayanan
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 12
The Vajpayee government is going to bring a three-tier Central funding scheme for the states to facilitate the modernisation of their police forces and beef up their network for more effective anti-terrorist and special operations.

However, a majority of states want more from the Centre.

While the Ministry of Home Affairs is considering to divide the Central funding into three categories — 100 per cent, 80 per cent and 60 per cent depending on the states’ requirements — the states which are going to be put in 80 per cent and 60 per cent categories are remonstrating.

Confirming the Centre’s plans, Union Home Secretary N Gopalaswami said the Home Ministry was working on the restructuring of the scheme and would soon finalise it to enable greater utilisation of funds.

Under the restructured plan, the states would be broadly divided into three categories based on the security scenario and financial stability and would be granted 100 per cent, 80 per cent and 60 per cent grant for the modernisation of police force, Mr Gopalaswami said hoping that this would enable optimum utilisation of the scheme.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had been implementing the scheme for modernisation of state police forces since 1969-70 to supplement the efforts of state governments in modernising their police.

The scheme provided assistance to the state governments on 50 per cent loan and 50 per cent grant-in-aid basis for the purchase of vehicles, equipment for forensic science labs, finger print bureau, police training. communication, light weaponry/crowd control/traffic control/VVIP security and scientific aids to investigation.

The state governments were required to provide an equal amount as matching contribution.

During the period 1969-70 to 1999-2000 Rs 536.74 crore was released to various state governments. The annual allocation was increased from Rs 200 crore per annum to Rs 1,000 crore per annum from 2000-01 onwards for the next 10 years in accordance with the Prime Minister’s announcement in the Chief Minister’s conference held on August 5, 2000.