Union Budget 2016: MHA gets 24.56 per cent hike for forces

In the wake of recent terror attacks by Pakistan-based terrorists, who infiltrated into the country, the government has decided to boost the capabilities of the Central armed police forces manning the crucial border, besides undertaking internal security duties in the face of agitations and law and order problems in the states. The Union Budget 2016 has given a steep rise in funds allocated to the Union home ministry, of which a major chunk goes to the Central paramilitary forces, including the BSF. The ambitious CCTNS project also gets prominence which seeks to link all the police data across the country online and make online registration of FIRs a reality.

The home ministry has been allocated over Rs 77,000 crore, a steep hike of 24.56 per cent majority of which has been earmarked for paramilitary forces like Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Border Security Force (BSF), responsible for internal security and border guarding duties. A total of Rs 50,176.45 crore has been allocated to seven paramilitary forces. Among these forces, the CRPF has been earmarked the highest at Rs 16,228.18 crore followed by BSF with Rs 14,652.90 crore while National Security Guards, the anti-terror commando force, gets an allocation of Rs 688.47 crore.

The Delhi police, which reports to the home ministry, has been given Rs 5,657.84 crore in the Budget. The budget allocated Rs 2,490 crore for erection of barbed wire fencing, construction of roads and induction of hi-tech surveillance along the India-Bangladesh and India-Pakistan borders. The Intelligence Bureau, responsible for gathering internal intelligence, has been allocated Rs 1,410.45 crore while Special Protection Group, which guards Prime Minister Narendra Modi will get Rs 359.55 crore. The National Intelligence Grid, which aims to link databases as an input in combating terrorism and intends to create a facility to improve capability to counter internal security threats, has an outlay of Rs 45 crore.

Rs 2,119.88 crore has been set aside for “providing support for research activities” in the MHA while Rs 150 crore has been allocated under Nirbhaya Fund for safety of women. The expenditure will be on the National Emergency Response System and Central Victim Compensation Fund for women and child victims among other schemes for safety of women.