Security related matters, including those pertaining to the welfare of police personnel and their families and wards are the concern of the State as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs because in the area of security not only the State police but paramilitary forces are also deployed. These paramilitary forces are directly controlled by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs although they work in tandem with the State police. After the rise of armed insurgency in J&K in 1990, the Union Home Ministry came into action because some areas of the State were declared disturbed areas. Since the State police alone could not combat the type of insurgency comingled with Pakistan sponsored armed infiltration with the purpose of disrupting law and order in the State, paramilitary forces comprising BSF, CRPF, ITBP and the defence forces had also to be inducted into the State. Induction of these forces meant taking care of the welfare of the deployed forces and their families. State Government has rules and regulations that cover the families of martyred policemen and their families and wards. Obviously, a state has to take into consideration providing of succour in whatever form possible, to the families of the policemen and soldiers martyred in action.
This and other matters pertaining to the upgrading of police services in the State were discussed in a high-powered meeting between the senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the State Police echelons in Delhi recently. The Home Ministry has accepted in principle that ex-gratia amount paid to a martyred policeman’s family should be at par with the amount paid to the martyred soldier of a paramilitary force. The MHA agreed that disparity in emoluments had to be removed and ex-gratia paid to the families of the martyrs had to be at par. The State Government used to pay rupees two lakh and the MHA contributed five lakhs making all seven lakhs to the family of a martyred policeman. However, the Home Ministry has agreed to enhance its contribution to ten lakhs whereas the State will enhance its contribution to seven lakhs. In all, the family of a martyred soldier will now get rupees seventeen lakh by way of ex-gratia relief. Obviously this is good news for the police force. Those who sacrifice their precious lives in the service of the motherland deserved a fairer deal. So it has come though belatedly.
The State team put forth some demands connected with Security Related Expenditures (SRE) but the Home Ministry officials made it very clear to them that unless Utilization Certificate in respect of each item of expenditure is received by the Home Minister no further funds would be available for them. It is to be noted that despite repeated reminders by the Union Home Ministry, the State Government has so far failed to submit the statement of expenditure and the Utilization Certificate. MHA has been repeatedly writing to the State Government to submit the UC before further installments of allocated funds are released. This is also true of certain items pertaining to Police Department. Now the Home Ministry has categorically told the J&K official delegation that it is not going to release any installment unless outstanding UCs are submitted. This issue of Utilization Certificate has been hanging fire for quite some time. It is unfortunate that by not submitting the UCs, our State is losing funds that would have gone a long way in the overall development of the State and in bringing to it good administration.
The MHA has also agreed for some more concession like opening of six more Police Schools in the State and providing special funds to the families of martyrs, SPOs and VDC members. This enhancement has been accepted in principle and is subject to availability of funds. But all of these offers are subject to production of UCs.
The MHA officials called upon the officials to clear all pending liabilities and provide UCs under the SRE before asking for more funds under various schemes.
The MHA also agreed for Rs 5 crores for ‘Police Parivar’ through which the Police Department provides financial help to the families of police personnel, Special Police Officers (SPOs) and Village Defence Committee (VDC) members. The MHA has shown its interest in providing additional infrastructure that would go a long way in increasing the volume of trade conducted through the two LoC crossing points at Salamabad in Uri, Kashmir and Chakan-da-Bagh at Poonch in Jammu region. While the quantum of trade has gone up ever since the LoC cross border trade was started in 2008 yet the minimum infrastructure that would go a long way in boosting the trade further was not provided. The Home Ministry has shown its willingness to improve it. However, it has to be remembered that the real purpose of opening the cross border trading points was to stimulate confidence building measures between the people on two sides. Despite many hiccups, somehow the process of cross border trade through LoC has not fallen apart. Finally, we prompt the State Government to expedite submission of Utilization Certificates which would pave the way for the Home Ministry to release further installments for projects that are underway. We do not want to lose the money on this count.
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