Why in news?
- Union Cabinet has envisioned massive funds for upgrading the security infrastructure of states.
What is the roadmap?
- An umbrella scheme for ‘Modernisation of Police Forces’ has been proposed.
- Over the next 3 years, centre plans to contribution Rs.18,600 crores which is 75% of total & the states will pitch in the rest.
- These funds will be used for enhancing weaponry of the forces along with transport, communications and forensic support among others.
- Under the scheme, Jammu & Kashmir, the North-eastern States and those affected by Maoist violence are to receive special focus.
Does increased weaponry mean better policing?
- While, Naxal violence is on the decline since 2013 but a 122% increase in violent neutralisation of ‘Maoist’ has been reported.
- Maoist arrests & arms recoveries have also increased, indicating that leftist unrest is still strong.
- Whether further militarising of police could address the probolem hasn’t been thought through.
- The executive has been viewing encounters as a legitimate crime-fighting strategy, despite Supreme Court direcvtives against it.
- There is a glaringly opacity in accounting for deaths caused by police action.
How effective has fund utilisation been?
- Notably, only 14% of modernisation funds were spent in 2015-16.
- Underutilisation of existing funds and the state’s capacity to absorb huge funds needs to be studied.
- The Union Home ministry has mandated every state to furnish an utilisation certificate for modernisation funds annually.
- Finance Ministry has stressed that unless previously sanctioned funds are completely used subsequent funding will not be released.
What are the structural issues?
- It has been 11 years since the SC directives on police reforms that focused on establishing accountability.
- While both the centre & states embrace big-ticket technical and infrastructural advancement, they still squarely snub demands greater checks and balances.
- Only few States provide security of tenure to their police chief and key field officers.
- Independent shortlisting of candidates for posting is also rarely done & DGPs are usually handpicked by CMs.
- Adjudicating members on “police complaints bodies” are mostly taken force itself, disregarding conflict of interest.
What is need?
- This infusion of funds could enable police organisations to overcome endemic shortages of operational resources.
- However, there is a greater need for structural reforms to democratise the police force & establish proper accountability.
Source: The Hindu
