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Police Reforms – The Challenges

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October 12, 2017

Why in news?

  • Union Cabinet has envisioned massive funds for upgrading the security infrastructure of states.

What is the roadmap?

  • An umbrella scheme for ‘Modernisation of Police Forces’ has been proposed.  
  • Over the next 3 years, centre plans to contribution Rs.18,600 crores which is 75% of  total & the states will pitch in the rest. 
  • These funds will be used for enhancing weaponry of the forces along with transport, communications and forensic support among others.
  • Under the scheme, Jammu & Kashmir, the North-eastern States and those affected by Maoist violence are to receive special focus.

Does increased weaponry mean better policing?

  • While, Naxal violence is on the decline since 2013 but a 122% increase in violent neutralisation of ‘Maoist’ has been reported.
  • Maoist arrests &  arms recoveries have also increased, indicating that leftist unrest is still strong.
  • Whether further militarising of police could address the probolem hasn’t been thought through.
  • The executive has been viewing encounters as a legitimate crime-fighting strategy, despite Supreme Court direcvtives against it.
  • There is a glaringly opacity in accounting for deaths caused by police action.

How effective has fund utilisation been?

  • Notably, only 14% of modernisation funds were spent in 2015-16.
  • Underutilisation of existing funds and the state’s capacity to absorb huge funds needs to be studied.
  • The Union Home ministry has mandated every state to furnish an utilisation certificate for modernisation funds annually.
  • Finance Ministry has stressed that unless previously sanctioned funds are completely used subsequent funding will not be released.

What are the structural issues?

  • It has been 11 years since the SC directives on police reforms that focused on establishing accountability.
  • While both the centre & states embrace big-ticket technical and infrastructural advancement, they still squarely snub demands greater checks and balances.
  • Only few States provide security of tenure to their police chief and key field officers.
  • Independent shortlisting of candidates for posting is also rarely done & DGPs are usually handpicked by CMs.
  • Adjudicating members on “police complaints bodies” are mostly taken force itself, disregarding conflict of interest.

What is need?

  • This infusion of funds could enable police organisations to overcome endemic shortages of operational resources.
  • However, there is a greater need for structural reforms to democratise the police force & establish proper accountability.

 

Source: The Hindu

 

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