Centre asks paramilitary to reduce expenditure

Economic slump has forced an austerity drive in paramilitary forces with Union Home Ministry advising them to prioritise their spending. Though there is no cut in the spending on modernisation drives in the paramilitary forces, the ministry has asked them to reduce expenditure in other sections. Sources in Border Security Force have said that they have been asked to a ten per cent cut in non-plan expenditure. However, there will be no issues regarding the contracts they have signed earlier.

A senior official in another paramilitary force said the Home Ministry is not clearing certain proposals sent by it though the spending in core security issues is not affected. The government had announced an austerity drive on September 18.

Strict expenditure control has been imposed on holding seminars and conferences and domestic and foreign travel of officials. Meanwhile, the centre has announced the sanctioning of Rs 1,260 crore for construction of the Indo-Tibetian Border Police (ITBP) infrastructure.