Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, May 4: Centre has chalked out a multi-pronged approach this year to contain militancy, cross border infiltration and promote economic activity, besides strengthening the hands of State Government by supporting several welfare measures.
This was revealed by the official of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in their meetings with the members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs.
“While listing their priorities for the current financial year, the MHA officials clearly told the Committee that the principal focus on the Internal Security would remain on countering terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir”, says the report of the Committee which is in possession of EXCELSIOR.
While commenting on the possibility of talks with insurgents, the Report says, “priority will be given to talks with militant groups, provided they abjure violence and seek resolution of their demands within the frame work of the Indian Constitution and come into the main stream of national life”.
The documents says, “Union Government is also supplementing the efforts of the State Governments through various measures such as deployment of Central Security Forces to assist the State Authorities in counter insurgency operations and providing security to vulnerable institutions and installations based on threat assessment”.
“Government of India in tandem with the Jammu and Kashmir has adopted a multi-pronged approach to contain cross border infiltration, promote economic activity, provide relief to victims and strengthen the State Government apparatus”, it added.
Elaborating further on the MHA priorities, the report says, “Central Government is closely monitoring the situation and assisting State Governments through providing CAPFs, sanction of India Reserve Battalions, modernization and up gradation of the State Police Forces, re-imbursement of security related expenditure sharing intelligence and also with facilitation of inter-State coordination etc”.
Concerned over the use of conduits for providing financial support to militant activities in the State, the documents says, “the Government remains committed to disrupt and dismantle the funding of terrorism and all steps will be initiated to choke these channels”.
Regarding other thrust areas for the current year, the MHA has laid emphasis on steps aimed to improve the Border Management in the State. “Multipronged strategy will be put in place to curb infiltration, smuggling and other cross border criminal activities. Besides, efforts will be made for construction of Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) on the borders”, says the Report.
The Committee also expressed its displeasure over the fact that major reduction has been made under Schemes of Border Infrastructure & Management and Police Infrastructure.
“Though there is an increase of 12.97 % in Budget Estimates (BE) 2016-17 as compared to what was allocated in BE 2015-16, this nominal increase does not seem to be in synchronous with what was projected by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Committee also notes that the major shortfall has been under Schemes concerning Central Armed Police Forces, Security Related Expenditure (SRE), Border Infrastructure & Management and Police Infrastructure which are of vital importance in terms of ensuring internal security in the country”, says the Report.
Further, the Committee strongly recommends that the Ministry of Home Affairs should pursue with Finance Ministry/NITI Ayog for higher allocation at Revised Estimates (RE) stage as reduced allocation might hamper on-going projects as well as taking off of new projects. The Committee impresses upon the Ministry to take steps for judicious and optimum utilization of available resources to ward off any impact of decrease in allocation vis-à-vis projected allocation. The Department Related Standing Committee on Home Affairs is being headed by P Bhattacharya and comprises eight Rajya Sabha and 20 Lok Sabha members. It’s members included Vijay Goel, K. Rahman Khan, Dr. V. Maitreyan, Derek O’Brien, Baishnab Parida, D. Raja, Neeraj Shekhar, Sitaram Yechury (Rajya Sabha) and Prem Singh Chandumajra, S. Selvakumara Chinayan, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Dr. (Smt.) Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Ramen Deka, Prataprao Jadhav, Mallikarjun Kharge, Kirron Kher, Kaushal Kishore, Ashwini Kumar, Mohammed Faizal PP, P. Nagarajan, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Baijayant “Jay” Panda, Dilip Patel, Lalubhai Babubhai Patel, Natubhai Gomanbhai Patel, Bheemarao B. Patil, Bishnupada Ray, Dr. Satya Pal Singh and B. Sreeramulu.
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