The Union Home Secretary, Shri G.K. Pillai presented the Report Card of the Ministry of Home Affairs for April 2010 here today.  Following is the text of his statement:

“I present before you the report of the Ministry of Home Affairs for the month of April, 2010.  I also take this opportunity to present the achievements for the full financial year 2009-10 under certain heads.

 

            As the month draws to a close, we remember with great sadness the tragedy that occurred in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh. 75 CPRF and 1 State police personnel were killed by the CPI (Maoist) in an ambush on April 6, 2010. The Home Minister visited Jagdalpur on April 7, 2010 to pay homage to the brave officers and jawans.  Home Mimister’s statement at Jagdalpur and in Parliament contain the Government’s response to the tragedy.  While many lessons will be learned from this incident, our resolve to fight the menace of naxalism remains strong and undiluted.

 

            Shri E N Ram Mohan, IPS (Retd) was appointed as the one-man Inquiry Committee into the Dantewada incident.  He has submitted his report and it is under my consideration.

 

            Each Next Of Kin (NOK) of the deceased CRPF personnel is entitled to receive:

           

Ex-gratia from GOI                                                                     Rs. 15 lakh

            CPRF Risk Fund                                                                        Rs. 10 lakh

            CRPF Central Welfare Fund                                                        Rs. 50,000

            Ex-gratia from Chhattisgarh State Government                              Rs. 3 lakh

            GPAIS from State Government Insurance Scheme                        Rs. 10 lakh

           

TOTAL                                                                                      Rs.38.5 lakh 

 

Till date, Rs. 28.5 lakh have been paid to each of the 74 NOKs. There is a dispute in one case with regard to identification of the NOK. The Rs. 10 lakh insurance amount (GPAIS) due from the Chhattisgarh Government’s Insurance Scheme is yet to be paid by the insurer.  The matter is being followed up for early payment.

 

            The status as on date of compassionate appointments to NOKs is:

Offer of appointment issued                                                         :           22

NOKs requesting delayed appointment*                                       :           39

NOKs requesting appointment for ineligible relatives                      :             8

    (The cases are being examined by MHA)

NOKs not yet willing for any appointment                                     :             6

 

TOTAL NOKs                                                                            :           75

(* - letters of comfort issued that their compassionate appointment would be issued when their wards become eligible)

 

            The Home Minister visited Arunachal Pradesh on April 2-3, 2010 to review the security in that State. Meetings were held at Itanagar, Tawang and Khonsa.

 

            The Home Minister visited Kolkata and Lalgarh in district West Midnapore on April 3-4, 2010 and reviewed the security situation with the District Administration at Midnapore.

 

            A meeting of the Consultative Committee of Parliament relating to the Ministry of Home Affairs was held on April 23, 2010 to discuss the issue of naxalism.  The Home Minister also held a meeting with the MPs from 35 naxal-affected districts of the country today.  Both meetings were inconclusive and will be continued on another day to enable all members to express their views.

 

Internal Security

 

            A team visited USA from April 24-27, 2010 to discuss modalities of gaining access to David Coleman Headley.  We have been assured that Indian investigators would be given direct access to David Headley.  This is a signal achievement and should put an end to the doubts expressed in certain quarters.

 

            In FY 09-10,

a.       prominent decisions taken regarding organizations affecting internal security were:

                                             i.            Renewal of the declaration of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) as an unlawful association on February 5, 2010.

                                           ii.            Inclusion of the CPI (Maoist) in the UAPA schedule, declaring it a terrorist organization on June 22, 2009.

b.       The Report of the Liberhan Ayodhya Commission of Inquiry along with Memorandum of Action Taken was laid in both Houses of Parliament on November 24, 2009.

c.       In-principle approval was accorded to the establishment of NATGRID.

 

Naxalism

            In FY 09-10,

a.       funds allocated and disbursed to naxal-affected States/districts under various schemes were:

SRE                                               Rs.   60 crore

MPF                                               Rs. 102 crore

SIS                                                 Rs.   30 crore

TOTAL                                            Rs. 192 crore

b.       Approval was granted for the recruitment of 6,666 SPOs in and by the naxal-affected States of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Bihar.

c.       Apart from holding intensive discussions with the Chief Ministers of naxal-affected states at the CM conferences in Delhi on August 17, 2009 and February 2, 2010, the Home Minister visited these States 12 times during FY 09-10 and also had detailed interactions with District Magistrates & Collectors of 39 naxal affected districts on March 4, 2010 in Delhi.

 

North-East

            On April 22, 2010, the implementation of the Assam Accord was reviewed by the Home Secretary in a tripartite meeting.

 

.           Significant successes were achieved in FY 09-10:

a.       Top leaders of the DHD (J) were arrested on June 4, 2009. 416 cadres have laid down arms and are staying in designated camps.

b.       Prominent members of the top leadership of the ULFA were arrested in November-December, 2009 and further efforts to curb the activities of remnant cadres are underway.

c.       412 cadres of the KLNLF laid down arms on February 11, 2010.

d.       Tripartite talks with ANVC were held in Shillong. The SoO with ANVC was extended by three months upto June 30, 2010.

e.       The fifth round of tripartite talks was held with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on March 18, 2010.

f.         In consultation with MHA, the Government of Mizoram has prepared an Action Plan for the repatriation to Mizoram of the first batch (about 12,000) of Bru migrants, currently living in relief camps in Tripura for the last 12 years.

g.       Talks began with the NSCN (IM) on their demands.  The talks are continuing with Shri R S Pandey representing the Government of India.

h.       Several groups such as NDFB (Pro-talk), DHD (Nunisa), DHD(J) and UPDS in Assam and ANVC in Meghalaya are holding talks with the Government of India and the State Government concerned.  Shri P C Haldar is the Interlocutor in this behalf.

 

Kashmir

            In April, 2010, the amount of pension to militancy-hit old persons and handicapped persons was increased from Rs.500 to Rs.750 per month.

 

            In FY 09-10,

a.       funds allocated and disbursed under various schemes were:

SRE (Police)                                               Rs. 168 crore

SRE (Relief & Rehabilitation)                         Rs. 120 crore

Compensation to victims of violence               Rs    90.72 crore

TOTAL                                                        Rs. 378.72 crore

b.       The following aspects of cross LoC trade were approved:

                                             i.            Putting in place a banking mechanism for trade by the Department of Financial Services.

                                           ii.            Increasing the number of trade days from the present 2 to 4 days.

                                          iii.            Procurement and installation of whole body truck scanners by MoD.

                                          iv.            Upgradation of infrastructure at the 2 TFCs by MHA.

c.       Under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan for J&K:

                                             i.            Work on Khanabal-Pahalgam road was completed.

                                           ii.            741 villages were electrified during the year.

CPOs/CPMFs

            In the month of April, 2010, the following approvals were granted:

a.       Procurement of 59,000 light weight BP jackets.

b.       Procurement of 378 automatic grenade launchers and related ammunition at a total cost of Rs. 37.83 crore.

c.       Procurement of 34,377 9 mm carbines by the BSF at a cost of Rs 137.51 crore.

d.       Procurement of 104 hand grenade simulators by the BSF at a cost of Rs 6.24 crore.

e.       Procurement of 1,000 Glock pistols for the CISF at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore.

 

            Work is in progress under the ambitious CPMF Housing Project.  91 bids have been received for the 5 clusters/30 sites for 13,026 dwelling units.

 

            Department of Telecommunications reduced the call charges for satellite phones issued to CPMF personnel in remote locations from Rs. 5 to Re. 1 per minute. To add to the currently available 400 DSPT phones, sanction has been accorded for 356 more phones at a cost of Rs. 5.3 crore.

 

            Sanctions amounting to Rs. 342.29 crore were issued for acquisition of land and construction of buildings/barracks/hospitals for CPMFs:-

Assam Rifles                 :           Rs.   31.22 crore

CRPF (SAG)                 :           Rs. 154.03 crore

ITBP                             :           Rs.   17.78 crore

SSB                             :           Rs. 139.26 crore

 

TOTAL                          :           Rs. 342.29 crore

 

.           In FY 09-10,

a.       the following approvals were accorded for strengthening CPOs/CPMFs, thereby increasing the manpower strength of these organizations by approximately 75,000 personnel:

BSF                  29 Battalions, 3 Frontiers and 7 Sectors

CRPF               38 Battalions (including 2 mahila battalions)

SAG (CRPF)     4 Battalions

CISF                 5962 new posts

NSG                 4 Regional Hubs and 2 Regional Centres

NCB                 250 posts

IRBs                 7 Battalions in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Orissa

BPR&D             20 CIAT Schools

Heli-bases         3 at Ranchi, Raipur and Agartala

 

a.       sanctions amounting to Rs. 1,829.36 crore were issued for acquisition of land and construction of buildings/barracks/hospitals for CPMFs:-

Assam Rifles                       :           Rs. 178.23 crore

BSF                                    :           Rs. 236.63 crore

CISF                                   :           Rs. 126.40 crore

CRPF                                 :           Rs. 633.05 crore

ITBP                                   :           Rs. 117.77 crore

NSG                                   :           Rs. 229.41 crore

SSB                                   :           Rs. 307.87 crore

 

TOTAL                                :           Rs. 1829.36 crore

 

b.       With regard to initiatives on personnel policy, the following decisions were taken:

                                             i.            Recruitment policy for Constables (GD) in CPMFs was revised on June 25, 2009

                                           ii.            The revised scheme for SI (LDCE) in CPMFs was issued on August 21, 2009

                                          iii.            Approval for the appointment of the following categories of doctors was accorded:

 

·   GDMO                    128

·   Specialist                117

                                          iv.            40 recruitment rules of different CPOs/CPMFs were approved

                                            v.            178 DPCs for promotions of CPO/CPMF officers were approved.

c.       To enhance levels of efficiency and speed of decision-making:

                                             i.            Financial powers were delegated to DIB for:

·         administrative / expenditure sanction of upto Rs. 10 crore and

·         for contracts upto Rs. 0.5 crore related to the R&T Centre

                                           ii.            Special DGs and ADGs were declared as HoDs

                                          iii.            Powers under various sections of the CrPC were delegated to DG SSB.

                                          iv.            Holding of normal DPCs was delegated to DGs of CPOs

                                            v.            All pay fixation cases were delegated to DGs of CPOs

                                          vi.            Appointment/deputation/induction to NSG (upto Commandant rank) was delegated to DG NSG

                                         vii.            DGs of CPOs accorded enhanced powers for capital works, land acquisition and miscellaneous matters.

                                       viii.            Under the Modernisation of Police Forces Scheme, the entire Budget provision (RE) of Rs. 1230 crore in 2009-10 was released.

Border Management

            India-Bangladesh Border: 210 kms of fencing and 309 kms of road works were completed in FY 09-10 and 30 kms of fencing and 25 kms of road works in April, 2010 under phase II of the project. 401 kms of fencing were replaced in FY 09-10 and 5 kms in April, 2010 under phase III of the project. Poles for floodlighting were erected on a length of 445 kms in FY 09-10 and 40 kms during the month of April 2010.

 

            India-Pakistan Border: 19 kms of fencing and 15 kms of road works were completed in FY 09-10.

 

            India-China Border: 65.74 kms of formation works and 13.70 kms of surfacing works were completed in FY 09-10 and 5.17 kms of formation works and 3.3 kms of surfacing works during April, 2010.

 

            Border Area Development Programme (BADP): The entire budgetary allocation of Rs 635 crore for FY 09-10 was released to all 17 border-States viz., Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. 

 

            Coastal Security: 109 boats were supplied in FY 09-10 as against a target of 126. 61 boats were supplied by Goa Shipyard Ltd and 48 boats by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. 10 more boats were supplied in April, 2010. The remaining 7 will be delivered in May, 2010.

 

Immigration:

            In April, 2010

a.       Computer hardware was installed at 3 more ICPs, taking the total to 33 of 42 in Phase-I.

b.       ICS software was integrated with web cameras at 10 ICPs.

c.       Construction was started at the Raxaul ICP on April 24, 2010.

d.       Land has been taken possession of for the Dawki ICP.

            In FY 09-10, the following measures were taken to improve immigration processes in the country:

a.       A mission mode project on Immigration, Visa and Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) was approved. This project would network 169 Missions, 77 ICPs (Immigration Check Posts), 7 FRROs (Foreigners Regional Registration Offices), and FROs (Foreigners Registration Offices) in the State/District Headquarters with Central Foreigners Bureau at a total cost of Rs. 1,011 crore by September 2014.

b.       Approval for revamp of the Foreigners Division of MHA at an estimated cost of Rs. 19.73 crore.

c.       Of the total 78 Immigration Check Posts (ICPs), till date, 33 ICPs in Phase-I of the Modernisation Programme have been computerized and networked to the Central Foreigners Bureau (CFB).

d.       Implemented the installation and upgradation of new and existing Passport reading machines (PRMs) to e-PRMs at 30 ICPs at a cost of Rs. 3.42 crore.

e.       Tourist Visa-on arrival facility was introduced for a period of one year for citizens of five countries viz., Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore.

f.         Frequently asked questions and answers thereto about Tourist Visa, Employment Visa, and Business Visa were uploaded on MHA’s website for the benefit of visa seekers.

g.       Construction work was started at the Attari ICP on February, 2010.

 

IPS Cadre

 

            In FY 09-10, the following steps were taken to improve management of the IPS cadre:

a.       Guidelines of Cadre Review of IPS were revised on the basis of recommendations in the Kamal Kumar Report.

b.       Cadre Review of 13 IPS cadres was completed in March, 2010 and the remaining 11 cadres consisting of 12 States would be completed as per the revised norms/guidelines in the first quarter of 2010-11.

c.       The methodology for calculation of vacancies for state police services to the IPS was changed.  Anticipated vacancies, rather than substantive vacancies, will be taken as the base.

d.       The IPS Deputation Tenure Policy, notified in April 2000, was reviewed and the revised policy notified on March 30, 2010.

e.       A Mandatory Mid Career Training Programme for IPS officers was introduced for SP, DIG and IG-level officers.

f.         A Special Tactical Wing has been set up in the SVP, NPA, Hyderabad to train SP/DySP-level officers to enhance capabilities to combat naxalism/terrorism.

 

States

            On April 5, 2010, the NIC was reconstituted.

 

            In FY 09-10, the Governing Council of NFCH was reconstituted on November 11, 2009.

 

UTs

            In April, 2010, in-principle approval was granted for Delhi Police HQs and the Dheerpur Housing Complex in the PPP format.

 

            In FY 09-10:

a.       Recommendations of the Third Finance Commission for the UTs of Andaman & Nicobar Island, Daman & Diu, Dara & Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep were approved in March 2010.

b.       Loans of less than Rs.2 lakh, amounting to a total of Rs 81.06 crores, contracted by small traders and businessmen in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, were waived on June 22, 2009.

c.       The rehabilitation package for victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots were extended to the UTs/States of Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal on September 10, 2009.

d.       1406 posts in CISF were sanctioned on April 8, 2009 for deployment for Delhi Metro Security.

e.       New police posts were created in the following UTs:

Puducherry                                   625 on January 15, 2010

Dadra & Nagar Haveli                    117 on January 7, 2010

Andaman & Nicobar islands           481 on March 4, 2010

f.         In the light of the Supreme Court directive in the Prakash Singh vs Union of India case, the following orders were issued:

                                             i.            A State Security Commission for the UTs constituted on March 3, 2010.

                                           ii.            The composition of the Police Complaints Authority and its function were conveyed to the UTs on March 23, 2010.

                                          iii.            The Punjab Police Act, 2007, with certain modifications, was extended to the UT of Chandigarh on March 29, 2010

g.       Sanction was given to the plan for Modernisation of Traffic and Communications Network of the Delhi Police on August 13, 2009 with an outlay of Rs.200 crores.

h.       Sanction was given to the project for the installation of a CCTV network with technology for number plate recognition at 31 locations in Delhi at a cost of Rs.68.03 crores.

i.         22 New Police Stations and 9 Sub-Divisions of Delhi Police were notified and 6,478 new posts sanctioned.

j.         The Cadre Reviews of DANICS and DANIPS were completed and the number of posts increased from 398 to 472 and 355 to 434, respectively.

Judicial

            On April 26, 2010, the Prevention of Torture Bill, 2010 was introduced in the Lok Sabha.

 

            Important decisions taken in FY 09-10 were:

a.       The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2010 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 15, 2010, which contains provisions for further amendment of amended section 41 and the newly inserted section 41A of the Cr. P.C.

b.       Assent of the President under article 201 of the Constitution of India was conveyed for 22 Bills.  Assent was withheld for 2 Bills. 5 Bills were returned.  2 Bills were withdrawn by the State Governments concerned.

 

 

International contacts and agreements

            In FY 09-10,

a.       Home Secretary-level talks were held with Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar.

b.       The Cabinet accorded approval for signing agreements with Iran and Sri Lanka on repatriation of sentenced persons.

c.       The Cabinet approved the ratification of the UN Convention on Transnational Organised Crime on March 19, 2010.

d.       India signed MLATs with:

                                             i.            Hong Kong on September 14, 2009

                                           ii.            Bosnia & Herzegovina on October 29, 2009

                                          iii.            Bangladesh on January 11, 2010.

e.       The following Joint Working Groups met:

                                             i.            India and European Union on June 11, 2009

                                           ii.            India and United States of America on June 7, 2009

                                          iii.            India and Canada on June 19, 2009

f.         The following extradition treaties were processed on references received from MEA:

                                             i.            Extradition Treaty with Vietnam

                                           ii.            Extradition Treaty with Saudi Arabia

                                          iii.            Extradition Treaty with Bosnia & Herzegovina

 

Other Initiatives

            In April, 2010 the following initiatives were taken:

a.       The Arms policy was finalized on April 6, 2010 and instructions issued to States by way of advisory on some aspects.

b.       Amendments to the Arms Rules 1962 were notified on April 28, 2010.

c.       10,000 pension records were computerized, taking the cumulative total to 1.53 lakh.

 

            In FY 09-10, the following important initiatives were taken:

a.       In the implementation of the CCTNS Project, SPMCs were appointed in 15 States/UTs and an amount of Rs. 4.78 crore was released to 7 States/UTs for strengthening the training infrastructure.

b.       Approval was given to the National Policy on Disaster Management on October 22, 2009.

c.       143,000 files of freedom fighters’ pension cases were digitized in FY 09-10. A database of 42,000 freedom fighters has been prepared so far.

d.       With a view to increase the business activities and the number of branches of the Repco Bank over the next three years, it was decided to infuse Rs. 74.36 crore as additional equity by Government of India in the Repco Bank. Of this, Rs. 48 crore was released during 2009-10.

e.       In-principle approval was accorded to creation of infrastructure facilities in the Sri Lankan refugee camps at an estimated cost of Rs. 29.7 crore.

f.         Approval was accorded to the installation of Integrated Security System (ISS) for the Commonwealth Games venues at a cost of Rs. 370 crore.

g.       Approval was given for installing the hardware/software for on-line and secure connectivity of the Multi-Agency Centre with State Special Branches.

h.       Approval was given to the scheme for strengthening State Special Branches.

i.         Modernisation of the MHA and CPMF Control Rooms by way of improved civil works and installation of new equipment, hardware and software was completed.

Census 2011 and National Population Register

 

            The enumeration for Census 2011 commenced on April 1, 2010. 

 

            Data collection for House listing and Housing census and for the National Population Register commenced in the States/UTs of Assam, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh (synchronous areas), Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Meghalaya, New Delhi (part), Orissa, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal”.

*****

 

OK/RS/KKA