Centre releases 1,158 cr to state for police modernisationIndia News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The Union Government has released Rs 1,158 crore in the last fiscal, for the modernisation of the state police forces. The bulk of this money has been given to seven Maoist- affected and four insurgency-prone states. Under Modernisation of Police Force (MPF) scheme, the Union Home Ministry provides financial assistance to State Governments for procurement of weapons, purchase of vehicles, construction of residential and non-residential buildings and procurement of security, surveillance, communication and forensic science equipments. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and West Bengal are facing threat from the left wing ultras and insurgency activities are troubling the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland. The naxal affected states got Rs 372.37 crore while militancy-hit states were given Rs 255.42 crore during 2008-09 for the modernisation of police forces. The Jammu and Kashmir top the list of allotments as the Home Ministry allotted Rs 109.65 crore to the state The Centre has given Rs 83.83 crore to Andhra Pradesh, Rs 75.86 to Maharashtra, Rs 69.85 crore to Jharkhand, Rs 68.11 crore to Assam, Rs 41 crore to Bihar and Rs 26.54 crore to Chhattisgarh. The Centre also released Rs 42.54 crore to Orissa, Rs 38.42 crore to Nagaland, Rs 39.23 crore to Manipur and Rs 32.18 crore to West Bengal.