The Hindu : National : Central forces require more funds to tackle terrorism Run-up to budget

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Central forces require more funds to tackle terrorism Run-up to budget

Vinay Kumar

Officials say raising one battalion of reserve force needs Rs.1 crore

NEW DELHI: As the United Progressive Alliance government prepares, in its second innings, to present a full-fledged budget in a week, there are hopes for more allocation for the internal security apparatus, the intelligence gathering machinery and modern, fully equipped paramilitary forces that are crucial to tackling and terrorism.

Presenting the interim budget for 2009-10 in February, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who was then looking after Finance, acknowledged the “new dimensions” to cross- border terrorism, especially in the wake of the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. He also admitted to the security environment getting deteriorated. Even during debates in Parliament, several members underlined the new challenges of policing and terrorism and the need to induct a new technology to fight terror, organised crime, insurgency and naxal violence.

President Pratibha Patil, in her address to Parliament last month, asserted the government’s resolve to “maintain utmost vigil in internal security.” She told the lawmakers that “a policy of zero-tolerance towards terrorism, from whatever source it originates, will be pursued.”

The other priority areas flagged by the President were stern measures to handle insurgency and left-wing extremism. Over the past two budgets, the UPA government has increased the allocation to the seven major Central paramilitary forces by 10-15 per cent.

In the last budget, the allocation stood at Rs.15,000 crore, with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) getting Rs.4,219 crore and the Border Security Force (BSF) Rs.4,063 crore. While the CRPF assists State governments in maintaining law and order and performs various internal security duties , especially in States affected by naxal violence, the BSF keeps vigil along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat and the India-Bangladesh and India-Myanmar borders.

The elite National Security Guards (NSG), which played a pivotal role in the operations during the Mumbai terror attacks, was given Rs. 157 crores. It is also setting up regional hubs in Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai by this month-end. These will be formally made operational by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram by this month-end.

There are other Central forces such as the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, which polices the Indo-Tibetan border in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh sectors, and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) which has taken over the security of airports all over the country, besides guarding vital installations. While the ITBP was allocated Rs.50 crore, the CISF got Rs.1,344 crore.

The Special Protection Group (SPG), tasked with providing security to the Prime Minister and former Prime Ministers, was allocated Rs.170 crore in 2008-09, as against Rs.117 crore in 2007-08.

As concerns over maintaining a favourable internal security environment grow, Home Ministry officials point out that raising one battalion of reserve force needs Rs. 1 crore. With a backlog of nearly 1.5 lakh vacancies in the constabulary still pending in various States, Mr. Chidambaram has set a deadline of March 31, 2010, for filling all vacancies. Though maintaining law and order is primarily the duty of States, raising more forces and equipping them with modern weaponry needs resources. “We want a substantial increase in allocations to raise more battalions of Central forces, but revenue generation has taken a hit owing to various factors, including the global slowdown and the prospects of a below average monsoon. We are also stressed, as States, especially those affected by Maoist activity, constantly demand more Central forces and better training facilities, the officials say.

Other internal security concerns remain in the Northeast, especially Assam and the border along Nepal. Police modernisation, for which Rs.1,340 crore was set aside in the last budget, is likely to get a bit more this time. Likewise, border management, construction of border fence along the India-Bangladesh border, surveillance, critical infrastructure in extremist-affected States, education, training and research, integrated checkpoints and the ongoing projects along the India-Pakistan border are some other areas which need more resources. The total allocation under these heads, including the Central paramilitary forces, was put at Rs. 21,715 crore in the last budget. Disaster management machinery, set up in 2005 after the tsunami slammed the coastal areas, is yet another area of concern. It got Rs.112 crore last year.

Mr. Chidambaram has advocated more funds for providing residential accommodation of police personnel, especially the constabulary, arguing that it will not only spur the construction industry but also provide quality accommodation to police personnel.

Last year’s budget allocated Rs.544 crore for police housing projects, and the sum is likely to go up only marginally in 2009-10.

While the National Investigation Agency, meant to handle terror-related offences, has become operational, there is a proposal to set up a national counter-terrorism centre to take proactive anti-terrorism measures.

Special Forces and Quick Response Teams are also to be raised and deployed in vulnerable spots. These areas will require more funds for setting up state-of-the-art anti-terrorism apparatus.

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