For the first time, budgetary provisions for the Home Ministry has crossed the RS 1-lakh crore mark and is pegged at over RS 1,03,000 crore for the next fiscal, with special emphasis on improving border infrastructure of police forces. The ministry has got RS 1,03,927 crore for 2019-20 which is 4.9 per cent more than RS 99,034 crore given in 2018-19, according to the budget papers.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh termed the interim Budget “historic” and said it will accelerate the process of creating a ‘New India’ which is confident, self-reliant, developed and prosperous.
“I congratulate the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister for this historic interim Budget which is not only development-friendly, but also pays special attention to the middle class, farmers, workers in unorganised sector and the other vulnerable sections of our society,” said the Home Minister.
The Delhi Police, which maintains law and order in the national Capital, has been allocated RS 7,496.91 crore while RS 2,000 crore has been allocated for the development of border infrastructure, amid tension along the India-Pak and Sino-Indian borders.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which is engaged in anti-militancy operations in Jammu & Kashmir, the Northeast, and often deployed for internal security duties, has been allocated RS 3,742.04 crore for 2019-20, in comparison to RS 22,646.63 crore given in 2018-19.
The Border Security Force, which guards the Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangladesh borders, has been allocated RS 19,647.59 crore for the next fiscal, in comparison to RS 18,585.96 crore given in 2018-19. The total allocation to Central Armed Police Forces, including CRPF, Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Assam Rifles and National Security Guard is RS 71,618.70, in comparison to RS 67,779.75 crore in 2018-19.
The Intelligence Bureau, which is responsible in gathering internal intelligence, has been allocated RS 2,198.35, in comparison to RS 2,056.05 crore given in the last fiscal.
The Special Protection Group, which is responsible for the security of the prime minister, former Prime Ministers and their close family members, has been allocated RS 530.75 crore, in comparison to RS 411.68 crore given in 2018-19.
In this Budget, RS 5,117 crore has been allocated for development of police infrastructure, including constructions of barracks, residential quarters, purchase of vehicles, arms and ammunition.