STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Though Union Government have released a whooping amount of Rs. 547.13 Cr during the last seven years in favour of the Jammu and Kashmir Government for modernization of the State Police, yet the casual approach of the Babus brought embarrassment to the State for their failure to submit the essential documents i.e. Utilization Certificates.
However, the allocation of funds by Union Ministry of Home Affairs for State Police modernization has now also been reduced significantly as compared to previous years. In years 2010-11 and 2011-12, MHA released an amount of Rs. Rs. 148.25 Cr and Rs 109.73 Cr respectively in favour of the State Government, whereas in the year 2015-16 and 2016-17 it received only Rs. 35.88 Cr and 24.63 Cr each year respectively.
The data has been released by the Union Home Ministry in response to an online RTI plea of applicant Raman Sharma submitted with the Union Government on 26th February 2017 wherein he had asked for details about the money given by the Government of India to the State Government for modernization of police during the period 1st April 2010 to February 2017.
In the RTI reply it has been also revealed that Utilization Certificates amounting almost Rs. 5 Cr have been not submitted by the State Government with the Union Home Ministry that are pending up to 31st March 2015, Rs. 4.58 Cr under Non-plan head and Rs.31 lakh under Plan-head.
It is pertinent to mention here that as per the guidelines of the funds released under police modernization scheme it has been made ample clear that unless utilization certificates are made available for the full amount of the release money no further release of funds shall be made to any entity. The funds received under Police Modernization Scheme (under Non plan head) has to be spent on strengthening the crime and criminal tracking networks and systems, improving mobility, purchasing and upgrading weapons, equipment, training equipment, forensic equipment, etc.