By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR/RAIPUR: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, G. Kishan Reddy, in a written reply to a question regarding expenditure on Naxalite Eradication Campaign, in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, said that as per Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, subjects of Police and Public Order are with the State Governments. However, the Government of India (GoI) has been supplementing the efforts of States to address left wing extremism.
States covered under LWE related Schemes of MHA are Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal & Kerala.
The annual outlays have been substantially increased to support States for combating left wing extremism. An amount of Rs. 848 crore was released by MHA to all the LWE affected States under such schemes during 2014-15 to 2016-17, whereas Rs. 3414.50 crore have been released/allocated during last three years between 2017-18 & 2019-20.
Giving a reply to the specific question on funds released to Chhattisgarh by the MHA, the Minister stated that an amount of Rs. 224.63 crore was released to the State to combat left wing extremism during 2014-15 to 2016-17, whereas Rs. 706.78 crore have been released under such schemes during last three years between 2017-18 & 2019-20.
The Minister informed that as per the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, the State share in the net proceeds of Union taxes was raised from 32% to 42%. Through this step, sufficient flexibility was provided to the States to conceive and implement the schemes/programmes suited to their local needs/aspirations and bridge the developmental deficit gaps in the backward districts. Accordingly, some of the schemes are implemented on sharing basis in the ratio of 60(Centre):40 (State) since 2017.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has 03 major schemes namely Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme, Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS) and Special Central Assistance (SCA) Scheme through which funds are given to States to tackle left wing extremism. Under SRE, expenditure incurred by the States on Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) is reimbursed on 100% basis, while for other items the reimbursement is made on sharing basis in the ratio of 60(Centre):40 (State).
SIS is implemented on sharing basis in the ratio of 60(Centre):40 (State). Under SCA funds are provided to States to fill critical gaps in Public Infrastructure & Services in 30 Most LWE Affected Districts. This is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme.
Reddy, in a written reply to a question regarding performance of National Investigation Agency (NIA), in Lok Sabha, said that the NIA was created in pursuance to enactment of NIA Act, 2008 with a mandate to investigate and prosecute terrorism related cases having national and international ramifications and other crimes affecting sovereignty, security and integrity of the country.
Since its inception and till date, the Central Government has entrusted 319 cases to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for investigation. Out of total cases registered, in 237 cases charge-sheets have been filed. Judgement has been pronounced in 62 cases in which, 56 cases have resulted in conviction. Total 276 persons have been convicted in these cases. The conviction rate is 90.32%, Shri Reddy stated in the reply.
