Union Cabinet approves umbrella scheme for police modernisation

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi has given its approval for implementation of an umbrella scheme for “Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF)” for years 2017-18 to 2019-20.  The financial outlay for the scheme over the three year period is Rs.25,060 crore of which the Central Government share will be Rs 18,636 crore and the states’ share will be Rs.6,424 crore.

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,  a 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, according to a PIB release.

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

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, according to the PIB release.