With a thrust on modernization, technology, law and order, MHA gets Rs. 1,85,776.55 crores in Union budget 2022
New Delhi, February 1
The Union Budget 2022, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Parliament has brought about a positive impact on the budget allocation of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) with a direct thrust to modernization and technology in policing and para military forces.
The Centre has allotted Rs 1,85,776.55 crores to the MHA for the police, CAPFs, internal security, border management and union territories. This year, the government has considered some of those departments for modernization, which were not even considered for regular grants in previous budgets.
The Centre has also proposed a rise in allocations for police and central armed police forces (CAPF) this year. The budget allocation for paramilitary forces has gone up to Rs 87,444.06 crore from Rs 81,396 crore last year.
The CRPF has been allocated the highest sum of Rs 29,324.92 crore, followed by Rs 22,718.45 crore for the BSF, which secures the border with Pakistan.
The CISF has been allocated Rs 12,201.90 crore, the SSB Rs 7,653.73 crore, the ITBP Rs 7,461.28, Assam Rifles Rs 6,658.41 crore and the NSG Rs 1,293.37.
This year all the forces in CAPF have witnessed an increase in allocation for the administrative expenses of the Central Armed Police Forces, which includes Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), as well as those of the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Departmental Accounting Organizations attached with these forces.
The government has allocated funds for modernization of some rare department that did not receive funds last year.
These include Plan IV for Central Armed Police at Rs 248.30 crore, Inter Operable Criminal Justice System at Rs 590.60 crore, Emergency Response Support System at Rs 150 crore, Women Help Desk and Strengthening of Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau at Rs 28 crore and modernization of Forensic capacities at Rs 300 crore.
The Centre has also given more attention to the internal security and intelligence services of the country. The Intelligence Bureau’s budget has been increased by around 10% to Rs 3168.36 crore this year. The IB plays a pivotal role in ensuring internal security and national security by assessing terror threats, terror groups and cross border activities that bring threats to the country’s welfare.
The Delhi Police, an important UT police that governs the national capital has received allocation of at Rs 10,096.29 crores. It had received a revised allocation of Rs 11,136.22 crore in 2021.
The Centre has allotted 9808.39 crores for the establishment expenditure while Rs. 287.00 crores have been allotted under capital section for installation of the CCTV cameras across Delhi, procurement of various advanced equipment, for law and order management.
The money has been also allocated for upgradation of the communication system like the cyber highway and Digital Trunking Radio system besides implementation of ITMS (Intelligent Traffic Management System) and induction of various typed of vehicles for policing.
The Centre has dedicated Rs. 259 crores dedicated specially for police infrastructure for construction of office buildings, residential buildings, improving housing satisfaction level, operation and maintenance of new Police Headquarters under PPE mode.
The Nirbhaya Fund, aimed at implementing measures for women’s safety, will receive Rs 200 crore, double the allocation from last year.
The Finance Ministry has hiked the allocation to Union Territories as well, particularly Jammu and Kashmir. The Home Ministry will receive Rs 35,581.44 crore for J&K in comparison to last year’s Rs 34,704.46 crore. Ladakh will receive Rs 5,958 crore, the same as last year.
This year, the Centre has looked into the much neglected subject of development and welfare of prisons in the country.
The government has allocated funds for major plans, including the modernization of prisons at Rs 400 crore. The MHA has recently passed most unexpected order for welfare of transgender inmates which was the much neglected issue from last several years.
The border management and development is another key area for the MHA to ensure security and counter terrorism, nasalism and intrusions bids. The country shares the border with Pakistan, China, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
The Centre has allocated Rs 565.72 crore for border development and Rs 2132.71 crore for development of left wing extremism affected areas. The allocation includes funds for Schemes of Security Related Expenditure (SRE), special infrastructure scheme and special central assistance to 35-worst affected districts in Naxal-hit areas. These districts again were crying for attention in terms of development and upgradation of security forces.
In the last budget, the Home Ministry had received an allocation of Rs 1,66,547 crores. This brings a hike of 11.5% over the previous year 2021-22.
