‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects as per the seventh Schedule of the Constitution. However, the efforts of the States for equipping and modernizing their police forces have been supplemented by the Government of India through financial assistance under the scheme of “Assistance to States for Modernization of Police (ASMP)”.
Under the scheme, the State Governments are provided central assistance for acquisition of latest weaponry, training gadgets, advanced communication / forensic equipment, cyber policing equipment etc.
Further, ‘construction’ and ‘purchase of operational vehicles’ are permitted in the insurgency affected north-eastern States and left wing extremism affected districts. As such, under the scheme, financial assistance is provided for development of infrastructure and acquisition of equipment. Every year, States formulate their State Action Plans(SAPs) as per their requirements and strategic priorities.
In case of all the States, including West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, funds are released on the basis of utilization certificates furnished by the States in respect of funds released to them during the previous years. The office of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) regularly audits expenditure under the Scheme. In addition, the Ministry of Home Affairs conducts Concurrent Audit of the Scheme and release of funds has been linked with submission of Action Taken Report (ATR) on the observations of audit reports by the State Governments. Performance of the scheme is evaluated from time to time and several studies have been conducted including Impact Assessment study of MPF scheme conducted by Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), an Evaluation Study of MPF scheme conducted by Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) and evaluation study commissioned by Niti Aayog in respect of the schemes under the umbrella scheme of Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF).
The financial details under ASMP Scheme during the past 5 years and the current year is as below:
(Rs. crore)
|
Year |
Allocation |
Release |
|
2015-16 |
662.11 |
662.11 |
|
2016-17 |
595.00 |
594.02 |
|
2017-18 |
769.00(BE) 452.10 (RE) |
451.68 |
|
2018-19 |
769.00 |
768.83 |
|
2019-20 |
811.30 (BE) 791.30(RE) |
781.12 |
|
2020-21 |
770.76 (BE) 73.27(RE)* |
49.75 (as on 10.3.2021) |
* Funds against allocations of most of the States could not be released as they have substantial unspent balances out of previous year releases.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply to question in the Rajya Sabha today.
****
NW/RK/PK/AD/DDD/2445