Bang for the buck

Bang for the buck

The Union Cabinet's Rs 25,000 crore outlay for modernisation of police forces fulfils a critical need of the hour. The ability of the police force to meet challenges posed by political patronage of criminal elements, technological change, insurgencies and growing awareness of rights called for strong measures. Law and order may be a state subject but onus lies on the Centre to help state governments usher in the necessary transformation of police forces. With schemes like these where the Centre provides 75% of funds, states have no more excuses on the financial front.

A lion's share of the central outlay ¬ Rs 10,132 crore ¬ has been earmarked for internal security expenditure in Jammu & Kashmir, northeastern states, and left-wing extremism affected regions. This is warranted as state police forces are better suited to working with local people, gathering intelligence, and ensuring the civilian administration's writ runs in troubled areas.

Army has more pressing strategic aims at our borders and central para military forces must be reserved for extraordinary situations.

The other far-reaching component of the package is the outlay for upgradation of police infrastructure.

More funds have been promised for expanding the Crime and Criminal Tracking Networks and Systems (CCTNS), purchasing weapons and vehicles, upgrading wireless sets and forensic science laboratories. The proposed integration of police stations with national crime databases will improve criminal investigations and the linking of police stations, courts, prosecution wings, forensic labs and prisons will cut delays and inefficiencies in the criminal justice delivery system.

But police reforms have a much wider ambit in which modernisation is only one ingredient. Most states have ignored the 2006 Supreme Court judgment that called for insulating police officers from political pressures, separation of investigation and law and order responsibilities, a fair and transparent postings regime, and a police complaints authority to check abuse of power.A recent report noted that over five lakh posts or 21% of sanctioned posts in state police forces are lying vacant. Collectively, these failings aggravate working conditions and undermine the ability of police to come to the aid of citizens in distress. The generous outlay of funds is also an opportunity for Centre to prod the 18 states where BJP and its allies are in power. Once BJP-ruled states undertake police reforms others won't be able to evade their responsibility.