Rather than acquiring modern gadgets and improving technology, states have spent over 50 per cent of the funds for modernisation of police forces on their housing and building activities, a parliamentary report has revealed.
“Spending more than 50 per cent on building activities defeats the very purpose of the scheme,” Parliament’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs said in its latest report.
It said that with new technological advances taking place at a rapid pace and in view of the fact that police forces in the country functioned with age-old equipment, “much of the scheme of modernisation should concentrate on providing modern gadgets, improving technology and providing IT facilities”.
The committee, headed by Sushma Swaraj (BJP), asked the MHA to review the scheme in the light of pattern of expenditure incurred by the states and prepare a list of activities which lay thrust on improving technology and providing modern gadgets.

Unspent funds
In its 66-page report, the panel said it was “constrained” to note that there was an unspent balance of Rs 47.81 crore under the scheme and suggested the ministry lay a condition that further funds would be released only after full expenditure of the previous balance.
The committee also said that it should be insisted upon that all states send utilisation certificates, on the basis of which further funds should be released.
“These are necessary to ensure that states spend the funds meant for modernisation of police forces in a better manner,” it said.
The MHA has been implementing the non-Plan scheme since 1969-70 to supplement the efforts of state governments in modernising their forces.
The scheme is to provide assistance to the state governments as 50 per cent grant-in-aid and 50 per cent loans for purchase of vehicles, equipment for forensic science laboratories, fingerprint bureau, police training, weaponry and construction of houses for police personnel and buildings for police stations.
From an annual Central assistance of Rs 1,000 crore in 2000-01, the Centre further enhanced the allocation to Rs 1,645 crore in 2005-06 with specific focus on states facing problems like terrorism and left-wing extremism.
Since 2006-07, the MHA has launched the scheme in Union territories too.
The parliamentary committee noted that special branches in states and UTs play an important role in collection of intelligence through technical surveillance. “The real and actionable intelligence at the micro-level comes through human assets,” it said.
The panel said that the special branches neither had sufficient infrastructure nor modern equipment.