27-Jul-2021: Assistance to states for modernisation of police

‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.  However, the Government of India supplements the efforts of the State Governments towards equipping and modernizing of their police forces, by providing financial assistance under the scheme of ‘Assistance to States for Modernisation of Police’ [erstwhile scheme of Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF)].   Under this scheme, the States have been provided central assistance for acquisition of advanced weaponry such as INSAS Rifles & AK series rifles; all types of intelligence equipment including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs),  Night Vision Devices (NVDs), CCTV Surveillance system & body worn camera systems; modern communication equipment and state-of-the-art equipment for  security / training / forensics / cybercrime / traffic policing. Further, ‘construction’ and ‘purchase of operational vehicles’ are permitted in the insurgency affected north-eastern States and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts. The State Governments are free to include proposals in accordance with their strategic priorities and requirements.

The Government has received State Action Plan of Maharashtra for the year 2021-22 under the scheme and the same has been approved by the High Powered Committee (HPC) constituted for this purpose.

For the year 2018-19, released funds include funds released to Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) for supply of weaponry and funds for Student Police Cadet programme also. Release for the year 2019-20 include  Rs. 32.03  crore for implementation of Mega City Policing Action Plan.  During these 3 years, released amount out of allocated funds was less than allocation on account of non utilisation of funds/non-submission of Utilization Certificates (UCs) in respect of funds released during earlier years.

27-Sep-2017: Cabinet approves umbrella scheme of Modernisation of Police Forces.

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for implementation of umbrella scheme of "Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF)" for years 2017-18 to 2019-20.  The financial outlay for the scheme over the three year’s period is Rs.25,060 crore, out of which the Central Government share will be Rs.18,636 crore and the States’ share will be Rs.6,424 crore. 

Salient Features:

Special provision has been made under the Scheme for internal security, law and order, women security, availability of modern weapons, mobility of police forces, logistics support, hiring of helicopters, upgradation of police wireless, National Satellite Network, CCTNS project, E-prison project etc.

Under the umbrella scheme,  central budget outlay of Rs.10,132 crore has been earmarked for internal security related expenditure for Jammu & Kashmir, North Eastern States and left wing extremism affected States.

Scheme of Special Central Assistance (SCA) for 35 worst LWE affected districts has been introduced with an outlay of Rs.3,000 crore to tackle the issue of underdevelopment in these district.

An outlay of Rs.100 crore has been earmarked in the North Eastern States for police infrastructure upgradation, training institutes, investigation facilities etc.

Implementation of this scheme would bolster the Government's ability to address challenges faced in different theatres such as areas affected by LWE, Jammu and Kashmir and North East effectively and undertake development interventions which will catalyze in improving the quality of life in these areas and help combat these challenges effectively at the same time.

New initiatives are being introduced to provide assistance to States for upgradation of police infrastructure, forensic science laboratories, institutions and the equipment available with them to plug critical gaps in the criminal justice system.  Police Stations will be integrated to set up a national data base of crime and criminals’ records.  It will be linked with other pillars of criminal justice system such as ‘prisons, forensic science laboratories and prosecution offices.

The umbrella scheme also provides for setting up of a State-of Art forensic science laboratory in Amravati, Andhra Pradesh and upgradation of  Sardar Patel Global Centre for Security, Counter Terrorism and Anti Insurgency in Jaipur and Gujarat Forensic Science University in Gandhi Nagar.

It is expected that the umbrella scheme, "Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF)" will go a long way to boost the capability and efficiency of Central and State Police Forces by modernizing them. 

27-Jul-2021: Compulsory education of prisoners

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles prison statistics reported to it by States and Union Territories (UTs) and publishes the same in its annual publication “Prison Statistics India”.

‘Prisons’ and ‘persons detained therein’ are State subjects as per Entry 4 of List II of Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Administration and management of prisoners is the responsibility of State Governments, who are competent to take appropriate steps for welfare of prison inmates. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been supplementing the efforts of State Governments by issuing various advisories from time to time. MHA has advised the States to establish special study centres in prisons and organize workshops to popularise educational programmes offered by National Open School, Distance Education Board and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), etc. for education of inmates.

A comprehensive Model Prison Manual 2016 was also forwarded to all States and UTs in May, 2016. The Manual has a dedicated chapter on ‘Education of Prisoners’, which provides that at the time of admission in the prison, prisoners should be classified on the basis of their academic/educational qualifications and their aptitude for further learning. It has been emphasised that education is vital for the overall development of prisoners and that education of illiterate young offenders and adult prisoners shall be compulsory.