Sahu pens Shah over Centre’s allocation to LWE-hit states
   Date :23-Jul-2020

Home Minister Tamradhwaj
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
RAIPUR,
 
Home Minister writes that since last many years, Chhattisgarh is combating the menace of LWE. He said, out of 28 districts, 14 districts come under Security Related Expenditure Scheme, of which, 8 districts are severely affected 
 
Raising the issue of gradual deduction in the allocation under Assistance to States for Modernisation of Police Scheme, to Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected Chhattisgarh over the years, Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to raise the allocations keeping in view the condition in Chhattisgarh. Sahu, in his letter, stated that gradual deduction of allocation under Assistance to States for Modernization of Police Scheme had been made despite the fact that Chhattisgarh is combating against LWE menace. Citing example, Sahu said in the 2013-14, the allocation approved for Chhattisgarh was approximately Rs 56 crore which gradually came down over the years and in 2019-20 the size of the allocation was not even Rs 20 crore.
 
Hence the State has urged the Union Home Ministry to hike the allocation so that a decision battle can be fought against Left Wing Extremism and at the same time police resources could be expanded and modernised. Tamradhwaj Sahu in his letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has written that the Assistance to States for Modernisation of Police Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme for capacity building of state police forces.
 
The main objective of the scheme is to fulfill the necessary shortcomings in the police administration and operation. Sahu wrote that since last many years, Chhattisgarh is combating the menace of Left Wing Extremism. He said that out of 28 districts, 14 districts come under Security Related Expenditure Scheme, of which, 8 districts are severely affected. The State Government has taken necessary measures for solving the problem after reviewing the human resources, basic amenities, training of police forces, etc. The state has also worked towards increasing force strength in police stations, capacity building of forces. Presently 45 Battalions of Central Armed Police Forces are in deployment in Chhattisgarh.
 
When the State came into existence, there were only 22,520 police personnel which now increased to 75,678. During this period new 11 revenue districts have came into existence and the numbers of police stations have increased from 293 to 467 and the numbers of police outpost has increased from 57 to 115. There are 22 battalions of Chhattisgarh Armed Force apart from battalions of Special Task Force. Various training centers for STF and Special Intelligence Branch has been established in the state like Chandkhuri Police Academy and Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare (CTJW) College, Kanker.
 
Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu said that due to expansion of police forces, there is urgent requirement for basic infrastructure and necessary resources like administrative building, housing and quarters, weapons, vehicles, telecommunication equipment, training resources, etc. Hence, hike in the allocation under the Assistance to States for Modernisation of Police Scheme, is utmost necessary.