Our Economic Bureau

New Delhi, June 3: The Group of Minsters’ (GoM) report on reforming the national security has recommended that states should be provided sustained financial support, under the scheme for modernisation of state police forces to, inter-alia, improve the fitness, preparedness, strike capability, mobility etc of the their police forces.

According to the report, the state governments should be required to pay special attention to the aspect of growing disillusionment among the people, on account of a high level of corruption among the police.
Modalities to build systems to weed out corrupt police officials must be worked out by the state government, the report suggests.

States themselves should maintain adequate strength of police to meet their present and turure requirements, adds the report. This could be attempted by earmarking funds for supporting schemes for mordernisation and strengthening. The level of assistance has already been enhanced to Rs 1,000 crore per annum.

Proper police lines may be established urgently, at least in disturbed areas to provide safety to policemen and their families. Establishment of police lines could be considered for inclusion within the purview of the scheme for modernisation of state police forces.

Each state could take action to set up a first class forensic science laboratory (FSL) with state of the art equipment and trained experts. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) could provide funds for this purpose under the scheme for modernisation.

Apart from earmarking the funds the MHA should have a monitoring mechanism to ensure that the funds provided to the state governments for modernisation are properly utilised and targets achieved.

Finally, the report suggests that a system may be devised for fixing annual targets for each state, in consultation with them, for upgradation/modernisation of their police forces.