Policing generally is a revenue deficit function of any Government. It is a State subject and the State Governments are to provide budgeting for policing in the State. A large chunk of funding also comes from Union Government to augment the efforts of the State Governments. It is observed that most of the States, with few exceptions like Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra etc., do not spend on policing because either they have other pressing priorities for development/welfare or simply put they do not have money. This has resulted in a non standardised and varying degree of policing, despite the desire of Central Government to have high standards of SMART Policing across the country, in a uniform pattern. Even Prime Minister and Home Minister have repeatedly emphasised peaceful, safe and secure environment as prerequisites for a developed and vibrant India.
Over last few years, we have seen proliferation in expansion and spending of CAPFs, as Centre has lot of funds, but they have a very limited role in day to day citizen centric policing and at the best, they are good for border guarding, security of vital installation duties or at times utilised by few states to contain insurgency, naxalism or election duties, which are a recurring phenomenon throughout the Country in some part or other.
Having put these circumstances in perspective, if the corresponding spending is made on the states, lagging behind in resources and funds, by the Centre, the field situation would be quite different and much better.There are many subjects which are in the ‘State List’, but abundantly funded by Central Government. No State would be averse to generous funding by the Centre with some suitable strings attached. Several such examples like Coastal Security Scheme, India Reserve Battalion, State Disaster Reduction Force, grants under Nirbhaya Fund, Modernisation of Police Forces etc are already under implementation. If one takes the budget of most of the State Police Forces, one will find that except the recurring expenditure, there is hardly any tangible money for spending on technology, modern gadgets, R&D, Housing, Training, Civic Action Programmes etc. Citing few examples, even BADP funds are not allowed for State Police, but only for CAPFs since 2008-09. This excludes not only police infrastructure built up in blocks bordering other nations or the civic action expenditure by local police to win the confidence of border population, but has even led to the exclusion of District SP from the District Level Committee on BADP fund utilisation. The security inputs and perspective are no longer available for utilisation of funds. Policing in such resource starved States can not be left alone to depend on only meagre Police Modernisation Fund.
The policy makers need to understand the importance of civil policing over armed police for its citizen centric approach. Many of the states even do not have fund to fill up the existing vacancies in civil police, what to say about its expansion. Unless novel ways and means are found to tide over this crisis and to handhold such states after their identification, it would be very difficult to achieve the aim of SMART Policing. Even the CSR funding is not available for policing activities (leave aside some traffic and training) as per the CSR Act. Just by inclusion of one activity “Public Safety and Security”, the vast CSR funds can be utilised by police, like other Government Departments.
It is sincerely hoped that the Policy Makers and Niti Aayog are made to understand these aspects in a comprehensive manner and start acting on it in a mission mode, before it is too late. At least, the opportunity should be given to those States , who want to avail. Lastly, there is no substitute for Civil Policing and its connect to common citizens.
Dr. Airicha Mittal is President of TARANG and Associate Chief Editor of The 4th Estate.
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