Modernisation of police: Don't spend funds to buy cellphones, construct houses, MHA directs states

NEW DELHI: The home ministry has directed state governments not to spend funds allocated under the Modernisation of Police Forces Scheme for buying mobile phones for senior police officers or on construction of houses and offices for them. The Centre had doubled allocation under the scheme toRs 3,000 crore in the Union Budget for 2014-15.

In a letter to all states sent earlier this month, the home ministry has stipulated a new set of instructions for claiming funds from the Centre under the scheme. The letter specifies that items like mobile phones, still and video cameras, and office automation devices like desktops and laptops should not be funded from the scheme.

The ministry has also said that MPF funds should not be spent on construction of offices or residences for senior officers or on purchase of "ready-built flats or buildings" for any level of officers. The directive follows reports that some states have been diverting MPF funds, which are meant for upgrading the counter-terror infrastructure of police forces, for projects like renovating offices and houses of senior officers of their police force.

A home ministry official said MPF funds must be spent only on core policing functions like procuring weapons, vehicles for operations, construction of police stations and police training institutes and housing facilities for junior police officers from the level of constable to inspector. NearlyRs 392 crore worth of MPF funds remained unspent as on August 14, 2014, the home ministry's letter said. "A firm utilisation plan should be an integral part of the MPF plan," it said, in light of the increased allocation for the scheme in this year's budget.