(a) whether the Government proposes to provide state-of-the art equipment to the State Government of Uttar Pradesh in view of security and maintenance of law and order in the State;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which these equipment are likely to be made available to the State; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the table of the House.
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STATEMENT IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *235 FOR ANSWER ON 01.08.2017 REGARDING “STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT”.
(a) to (c): ‘Public Order’ and ‘Police’ are state subjects as per the Constitution of India. As such, responsibility of equipping the state police forces with appropriate equipment, gadgets, weaponry, etc., lies with the State Governments. However, Government of India supplements the efforts of State Governments by providing assistance under the Modernisation of Police Forces(MPF) scheme to strengthen police infrastructure. Under the Scheme, annual budgetary outlay is allocated to various States based on a formula which takes into account criteria such as population, strength of police force, number of police stations and incidence of crime. Based on their respective allocation, conveyed by Government of India, the states furnish their State Action Plan(SAP) every year as per their requirements and strategic priorities, to the Ministry of Home Affairs for approval. As such, the State Government of Uttar Pradesh, which has an allocation of Rs. 77.16 crore for the year 2017-18, has been requested to furnish SAP of Rs. 128.61 crore (including State share of Rs. 51.44 crore) for acquisition of various equipment, weaponry etc. as per its requirements and strategic priorities. After consideration and approval of the SAP, as per guidelines and subject to submission of relevant utilisation certificates by the State, funds will be released to Uttar Pradesh accordingly.
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