State second highest in security spending
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 11 2021: Manipur has become the highest spender among North East states after Assam in terms of security related expenditure out of the various funds released under Modernisation of Police Force scheme.

Though police and public order are state subjects under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, the Central government implemented Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF) scheme from September, 2017.Out of the total outlay for the year 2017-18 to 2020-21 for the scheme, Manipur spent Rs 140.14 crore in security related expenditure sub-scheme of the scheme thus becoming highest spending states in NE after Assam.

Assam is highest spender in this sub-scheme with Rs 701.08 crore and Nagaland third with Rs 110,14 crore.

Arunachal Pradesh spent Rs 87,61 crore to occupy the fourth spot followed by Tripura with Rs 78,78 crore and Meghalaya Rs 42,50 crore.

However, Manipur could not receive more than Rs 18.72 crore for the past three years from the Centre as assistance under Modernisation of Police sub-scheme of the scheme.

Neighbouring states Mizoram and Nagaland have respectively received Rs 50.32 crore and Rs 50.05 crore under this sub-scheme while Tripura was allocated Rs 19.40 crore.

For taking up projects and programmes for upgrade of police infrastructure under the scheme, Manipur got Rs 11.25 crore so far while Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have respectively been provided Rs 5.89 crore, Rs 6.30 crore, Rs 4.53 crore, Rs 6,75 crore, Rs 7,36 crore and Rs 4.50 crore.

The scheme is being looked after by the Union Home Ministry in two perspectives - Police Modernisation and Security Related Expenditure (SRE), consisting of central sector sub-schemes such as Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) project and e-Prisons project, which have been made operational in all the States/Union Territories.

Initially the scheme was implemented for three years from 2017-18 to 2019-20 with a total outlay of Rs 25,061 crore which includes central outlay of Rs 18,636.30 crore.

The scheme was further extended for 2020-21 .

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