In a clear indication of heavy reliance of the police forces on the Central paramilitary forces due to poor police to population ratio, the cumulative outstanding dues of the States on account of CRPF deployment has touched a staggering over Rs 11,930 crore. The dues are also an indicator of poor fiscal management of the States’ economy.
According to CRPF data, Naxal-affected Chhattisgarh leads the pack with an outstanding due of Rs 2,387.90 crore, followed by Jharkhand (Rs 2,017.89 crore), Odisha (Rs 1,096.84 crore), Andhra Pradesh (Rs 1,078.20 crore), Bihar (Rs 709.95 crore), West Bengal (Rs 588.37 crore).
Other major defaulters include UP (Rs 1,131.33 crore), Delhi Police (Rs 495 crore), insurgency-hit Jammu & Kashmir (Rs 795.87 crore), Maharashtra (Rs 468.34 crore).
Only two States — Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim and Union Territory Puducherry do not have any outstanding dues.
Northeastern States that are also hit by insurgency have a relatively lower amount by way of dues towards deployment charges for CRPF. Assam for example owes only Rs 70.25 crore. Manipur has a similar outstanding bill of Rs 70.60 crore. While Nagaland has a due of Rs 4.15 crore, Tripura, however, has accumulated a due of Rs 50.47 crore. Arunachal Pradesh has an outstanding bill of Rs 30.83 crore.
Interestingly, Mizoram has overpaid the CRPF to the tune of Rs 46,03,926. likewise, the National Capital Territory of Delhi has accumulated a due of Rs 51.50 crore, a large State like Rajasthan just owes Rs 90.13 lakh.
Other minor defaulters include Goa (Rs 6.27 crore), Gujarat (Rs 21.16 crore), Haryana (Rs 6.19 crore), Karnataka (Rs 4.90 crore), Kerala (Rs 4.54 crore), Uttarakhand (Rs 33.85 crore).
The CRPF provides a discount of 2.5 per cent for payment of outstanding dues within a period of 90 days from the date of claim of the bill and charges a penalty of 2.5 per cent beyond the stipulated period. Barring Puducherry, Sikkim, Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh, all the other States and Union Territories paid penalties. The total amount of payment towards penalty stood at Rs 174.98 crore.
The CRPF has deployed about 70 battalions (70,000 personnel) in Jammu & Kashmir and nearly 40 battalions (40,000 personnel) each in the Naxal-affected States and insurgency-hit Northeastern States. The Central Reserve Police Force is the world’s biggest and designated counter-insurgency, anti-terrorist and anti-Naxal force.