The Scheme for ‘Modernisation of State Police Forces (MPF) is a significant initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs towards capacity building of the State Police Forces, especially for meeting the emerging challenges to internal security in the form of terrorism, naxalism etc.
Some of the major items provided under the Scheme include construction of secure police stations, outposts, police lines, ensuring mobility, security, provision of modern weaponry, surveillance, communication, forensic equipments, upgradation of training infrastructure, police housing, computerisation, etc.
The States have been categorised into ‘A’ and ‘B’ categories with 100% and 75% central funding, respectively. While J&K and eight North Eastern States viz., Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim have been classified as ‘A’ category States, the remaining 19 States fall in the ‘B’ category.
The Scheme has been formulated with the aim of accelerating the process of modernisation in the police forces, with focused priority on States facing problems of terrorism and left wing extremism.
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The Scheme also includes a special component for strengthening the police infrastructure in the 76 naxal-affected districts at the rate of Rs.2 crore per affected district per year initially for a period of 5 years. Similarly, a provision has been made for Rs.1 crore per district per year initially for a period of 5 years for the 30 districts situated on international borders i.e. the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders.
The Details of the Central Assistance Released to the State Governments during the Last 9 Years are as under:
The main objective of the scheme is to meet the identified deficiencies in various aspects of police administration, which were worked out by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) in a study done in the year 2000. Another objective of the scheme is to reduce the dependence of the
State Governments on the Army and Central Police Forces to control internal security and law and order situation by way of equipping the State Police Forces adequately and imparting the required training.
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The focus of the scheme is on strengthening the police infrastructure at the cutting edge level by way construction of secure police stations, equipping the police stations with the required mobility, modern weaponry, communication equipment, forensic set-up, housing, etc.
Impact of the Scheme
The scheme has made perceptible impact in all the States and has provided the much needed assistance and impetus to police modernisation. For instance, proper buildings for police stations/out posts with required facilities have been provided with a safe, secure and comfortable environment.
Construction of houses for police personnel and provision of modern weapons has boosted their morale, particularly in extremist-affected areas. The increased availability of vehicles at cutting edge level has improved mobility and reduced response time.
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A satellite based all-India police telecommunication network, namely, POLNET is under implementation which is also being funded under the MPF Scheme.
Mega city policing (MCP)
A new concept of Mega City Policing (MCP) was introduced in 2005-06 under the Scheme for Modernization of State Police Forces covering seven cities of Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai Delhi, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. The respective States are required to include MCP proposals in their Annual Plan.
These proposals are considered and approved by a High Powered Committee as an integral component of the MPF Scheme pertaining to the respective States.
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The Plan has to be based on a study of specific problem areas of mega city policing including details of demographic growth patter special problems faced in policing in large urban areas, crime investigation, traffic management, infra structure available in terms of modern control rooms, digital radio trucking, communication system PCR van network, etc. Financial assistance is also given to mega cities for procurement of modern and innovative equipment, etc. as a part of the Scheme.
Desert policing
Desert Policing is also a new concept which formed a part of the Police Modernisation Scheme from 2005-06. Desert Policing is primarily meant for the States of Gujarat and Rajasthan to address the problems regarding policing in the large and scattered desert areas of the State.
Keeping in view the demographic distribution, problems in investigation, mobility, and communication are given emphasis under the Desert Policing Scheme. Expenditure for this component is also met out of the funds allocated under the MPF Scheme for the respective States.
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Strengthening of special branches
While recognising the crucial role of the Union Territories, the Ministry has laid emphasis on earmarking up to 5% of the total allocation under MPF towards strengthening of their Special Branches in terms of modern equipment, gadgets for communication, etc.
It has also been emphasised that the States should take action to suitably enhance the manpower in the Special Branches from their own resources. As was done in the previous financial year, for 2009-10 also, all the States were advised to earmark upto 5% of the MPF allocation towards strengthening of their Special Branches.
Crime and criminal tracking network & system (CCTNS)
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A Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA) programme was hitherto being implemented (since 2005) as a part of the Scheme for Modernization of State Police Forces, with the aim of computerization and bringing in greater efficiency and transparency in various processes and functions at the Police Station level and improve service delivery to the citizens. So far, 2760 police stations out of a total of around 14,000 police stations across the country have been covered under the CIPA scheme in a standalone mode. Now a new Crime and Criminal Tracking Networking and Systems (CCTNS) project has been launched in the 11th Five year plan with an outlay of Rs.2,000 crore with the following objectives:-
» Provide the Investigating Officers of the Civil Police with tools, technology and information to facilitate investigation of crime and detection of criminals.
» Improve Police functioning in various other areas such as Law & Order, Traffic Management etc.
» Facilitate Interaction and sharing of crime and criminal Information among Police Stations, Districts, State/UT headquarters and other Police Agencies.
» Keep track of the progress of Cases, including in Courts.
» Make the Police functioning citizen friendly and more transparent by automating the functioning of Police Stations.
» Improve delivery of citizen-centric services through effective usage of ICT.
The private security agencies (regulation) act, 2005
In public interest and in order to regulate the increasing activities of private security agencies, both Indian and foreigners, “The Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005” has been notified in the Gazette of India on June 23, 2005. The Act came into effect from March 15, 2006.
Under this Act, a Controlling Authority is to be appointed by each of the State Government for granting licenses to agencies for carrying on the business of security agencies and other related matters.
The Central Government has framed the “Private Security Agencies Central Model Rules, 2006” which were notified in the Gazette of India on April 26, 2006. These Rules have been sent to the State Governments for their guidance to enable them to frame their own rules, in conformity with the Central Model Rules.
The State Governments of Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Nagaland, Punjab, UT of Chandigarh, West Bengal, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have framed and notified the rules in the Gazette.