Question : DESERT POLICING



(a) whether the Government has started desert policing in the State of Gujarat and Rajasthan;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the funds allocated and utilized thereunder during each of the last three years and the current year?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN)

(a) to (c) : The Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing a Non-Plan Scheme for Modernisation of State Police Forces (MPF) towards supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in modernizing their police forces, especially meeting the emerging challenges to internal security in the form of terrorism, naxalism etc. The Desert Policing is a component of the MPF Scheme and was introduced in the year 2005-06. The following are the Central funds released during 2008-09 and funds approved in 2009-10 and 2010-11 in respect of Gujarat and Rajasthan for Desert Policing under the MPF Scheme :

(Rs in crore)
State 2008-09 2009-10 2010 -11
Gujarat 2.94 1.62 5.46 Rajasthan 5.99 8.28 19.94 Total 8.93 9.90 (#) 25.40 (#)
(#) funds approved for Desert Policing in the MPF action plans.
No funds have been released in the current year so far.


The utilization certificates are received from the States on consolidated basis and not component-wise. The utilization certificate for the funds released in 2010-11 will become due from the State Governments from 01-04-2012.