REPORT CARD OF MHA-INDIA JULY 2009

Report Card of the Ministry of Home Affairs for July, 2009
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16:54 IST
Shri P. Chidambaram presented the Report Card of the Ministry of Home Affairs for July, 2009 today. Following is the text of the Minister’s statement :

“July 2009 saw the Budget provide Rs.46,392.53 crore to the Ministry of Home Affairs under ten Demands for Grants. This represents an increase of Rs.10,770.51 crore over the Revised Estimate of 2008-09 (Rs.35,622.02 crore). The bulk of the provision is for Demand No.53 – Police. MHA is confident that with the increased allocation it would be in a position to fulfil most of the objectives set out in Action Plan II as well as Action Plan III that will be drawn up for the period 1.10.2009 to 31.3.2010.

2. The Demands for Grants of MHA were discussed in the Lok Sabha on 22nd July, 2009.

3. I responded to a Calling Attention Motion on ‘honour killings’.

Internal Security

4. Internal Security continues to receive the highest attention. The MAC – SMAC network will be deepened to connect the special branches at the district level. Work has begun on a pilot project to connect 40 districts in the North Eastern States to the MAC – SMAC network.

5. CCEA approved the proposal for establishing a Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS). Following the approval, the implementation guidelines and the system documents were released to the States and the States were requested to begin work towards establishing the system. Rs.89 crore has been allocated to the States and UTs.

6. A Special Tactics Wing has been established in the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad. The Academy will now offer a course on tactical operations in militancy affected areas.

7. Although it is about seven weeks since the CPMFs were deployed in Lalgarh at the request of the Government of West Bengal, the situation has not still stablised. The CPI (Maoist) still continues to have pockets of influence and is suspected to be behind some recent acts of violence. We have made it clear to all States that while CPMFs will be available for deployment, such deployment cannot be for an indefinite period, and that State Police Forces would have to take over the responsibility of maintaining law and order as soon as possible.

8. I am happy that the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) heeded the advice of the Central Government and Government of West Bengal and withdrew their agitation and, in particular, the attempt to block National Highway 31A which is the lifeline to Sikkim. We have invited the GJM for tripartite talks on August 11, 2009 and I hope that the talks will be held with an open mind and explore all avenues towards a resolution of the issues raised.

9. I am happy that the issue of providing reservations for the Gurjar community in Rajasthan was resolved in the space of a few days.

10. I was pained by the developments in Jammu and Kashmir following certain allegations made in the J&K State Legislature. MHA put out the facts in the public domain and, I believe, that helped bring the controversy to an end. What Jammu and Kashmir needs is good and effective governance and I hope that all political parties will work with the State Government to provide good and effective governance in that State.

CPMFs

11. During July 2009, Rs.59 crore was sanctioned for various infrastructure works in the CPMFs.



12. Procurement for the CPMFs continues at an accelerated pace. Among the sanctions issued in July 2009 were:

(i) A contract for procurement of 10 nos. of 12-tonne interceptor boats for Andaman & Nicobar islands was signed on 31st July 2009.

(ii) Sanction was accorded to BSF to procure 1490 nos. of high frequency digital radio sets at a cost of Rs.78 crore.

(ii) Sanction was accorded to CRPF for procurement of 288 nos. of Boat Assault Universal Type (BAUT) at a cost of Rs.10 crore.

13. Nursing allowance to nursing personnel of CPMFs will now be at the same rate as applicable to nursing personnel of Central Government hospitals.

14. The first batch of women constables recruited in the BSF was inducted at a passing out parade at Kharkan, Punjab on 25th July, 2009.

15. Infosys Technologies Limited has become the first private sector establishment to be provided CISF cover.

States and UTs

16. MHA continues to provide help to the State Governments in tackling insurgency and left wing extremism. Some important measures were:

(i) Orders were issued for engagement of 6666 SPOs in the states of Andhra Pradesh (1630), Uttar Pradesh (203), Orissa (1480) and Bihar (3353).



(ii) Security Related Expenditure (SRE) work plans were approved for the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

17. New Governors were appointed for Haryana (Shri Jagannath Pahadia) and Uttarakhand (Smt. Margaret Alva). Shri Iqbal Singh was appointed as Lt. Governor of Puducherry.

18. President’s rule was extended in Jharkhand for a further period of six months. Shri K Sankaranarayanan was appointed as Governor of Jharkhand.

19. The Committee on Non-Plan Expenditure has approved the infusion of additional equity of Rs.74.36 crore over 3 years into REPCO Bank (Rs.48 crore this year).

20. Advance Releases made of Rs.81.40 crore to Assam, Rs.62.79 crore to Bihar, Rs.2.34 crore to Manipur and Rs.124.77 crore to UP (Total Rs.271.3 crore) as Centre's contribution to the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) during 2009-10.

Border and Coastal Security

21. Border fencing and road works continue to make progress. In July 2009, 12.30 kms. of fencing and 9.15 kms of road work were completed on the Indo-Bangladesh border. Besides, 17 kms of fencing was replaced. On the Indo-China border, 35.63 kms. of formation works and 2.82 kms. of surfacing works were completed.

22. Coastal security has been strengthened. In July 2009, 7 interceptor boats were delivered by two shipyards.

23. Immigration Control System (ICS) software was installed at Nagpur airport and Port Blair seaport. Three ICPs at Nagpur airport, Gaya airport and Port Blair seaport were connected with the network of Central Foreigners Bureau (CFB). Computer systems were upgraded in two ICPs at Nagpur airport and Port Blair seaport.

24. The Cabinet has approved the draft of the Land Ports Authority of India Bill, 2009. Subject to the orders of the Speaker, I intend to introduce the Bill in the current session of Parliament.

Response to Pakistan’s Questions

25. Yesterday, MHA finalised the response to the latest set of questions sent by the Government of Pakistan in connection with the investigations in Pakistan on the terror

26. attack in Mumbai on 26th November, 2008. A 7-page response with annexures has been handed over to the Ministry of External Affairs for transmission to the Government of Pakistan.

Census 2011 and National Population Register (NPR)

26. The preparatory work for collecting data for the National Population Register (NPR) of all usual residents in the coastal villages has been completed. Work orders have been issued to 3 Central PSEs, namely, BEL, ECIL and ITIL. The data collection will commence in the first week of August 2009.

27. The pre-test for Census 2011 commenced on 28th June 2009 in all the 35 States and Union Territories. The field work for the pre-test was completed on 31st July 2009. Orders for necessary hardware and software required for data processing were placed with NICSI at a cost of Rs.18.75 crore. Besides, approval was granted to procure ICR software for image processing at a cost of USD 400,000.

Section 377 IPC

28. The 3-Minister Group took note of the judgement of the High Court in the case of Naz Foundation and Others. Vs. UOI and Others and finalised its recommendation to the Cabinet”.

OK/RS/KKA