The Central funds for police modernisation will go a long way in curbing crime

Modernising the police force through funds-powered reforms was one urgent measure that the law enforcers had been needing for over a decade and more. The Rs 25,000 crore that the Cabinet has finally cleared to bring about some method in the madness of policing under immense pressure, took three years to materialist under the NDA Government, but better late than never. The money and measures to follow, if properly utilised, will make society a better place to live in. The harassed cops will now get a reprieve of infrastructure upgrade which, in turn, will upgrade their working capacities, living condition and policing behaviour. The police force has been a cauldron of unmitigated corruption and insensitivity. These reforms are expected to clean up that scourge and, even though high pressure, low pay and below average living conditions cannot be a justification for corruption. Relief measures like the one initiated by the Government often work in the right direction. Besides corruption, a dismally low manpower problem has been the panacea of many ills within the force with an average of one policemen charged to guard over 25,000 people in a single area. Now that the numbers will increase, there will be a settling down in work distribution too and the force will be able to look into crime with a new perspective. Not just that, the arms and ammunition provided to the civil police dealing with sophisticatedly armed criminals have been sub-standard, often making the cops sitting ducks to criminal violence against them. The money will definitely sort out this major problem of giving the convulsing police forces all over India the much needed modern mores of policing. From surveillance  equipment to weaponry to training to even daily needs like living quarters, adequate fuel funds, vehicles, choppers and communication and night vigil devices will make law enforcement easier. The massive funds come as part of the NDA Government's three-year -old manifesto promise and have been ably distributed to take care of the special needs of the cops taking on insurgents, militants and Naxalites in States beset by secessionists. Of the total outlay, the Centre will provide Rs 18,636 crore which is around 75 per cent while the States will pitch in with Rs 6,424 crore. The Rs 10,132 crore for forces fighting in States like Jammu & Kashmir, North-East and those hit by extreme Maoists, will come as a huge relief for the beleaguered forces in these troubled areas.

However, now that the fund part is taken care of, the more important task of correct usage of this resource comes into play. Unless this money is put to good use and fast, all reforms will continue to be stacked on the shelf. That, and the fact that no comprehensive modernisation can be done unless the police force is given some amount of autonomy to function without fear of the reigning political masters. Suffice it to say,  the funds delivery needs to be urgently followed up by a Government drive to monitor how the money is used to actually skill the force and deliver sound policing to the citizens suffering the rigours of rising crime and violence in society.