Govt clears ₹25k-cr scheme to modernise police in 3 yrs

NEW DELHI: The cabinet committee on security has cleared a ₹ 25,060-crore umbrella scheme aimed at modernising the central and state police forces over the next three years, with the Union government bearing a larger part of the financial burden.

The Centre’s share of the expenditure will come up to 80% of the MPF (modernisation of police forces) scheme’s total budget, translating to ~18,636 crore, while the states pitch in for the rest.

Special provisions have been made under the programme for internal security, law and order, women’s security, modern weapons, mobility of police forces, logistical support, hiring of helicopters and wireless upgradation, among others.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh claimed that the scheme will help the Modi government fulfil its dream of establishing a ‘Samriddha aur Surakshit Bharat (Prosperous and Secure India)’. “It will enable the computerisation of crime registration and aid investigation as well as prosecution, strengthening the criminal justice system in general,” he added.

Earlier, the task of police modernisation was left largely to the states. “However, the present home ministry believes this is a task that should be largely shouldered by the central government,” said an official, adding 17 schemes related to police and security forces will come under the MPF.