Security infrastructure: Panel backs MHA bid to bring two schemes under central plan

While SIS is implemented in the Maoist-hit states, SRE is utilised for Jammu & Kashmir, Maoist-hit areas and the Northeast.

Last year, after accepting the 14th Finance Commission’s recommendation to enhance the state’s share of Union tax proceeds to 42 per cent from 32 per cent, the government had delinked SIS from central assistance.

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“The (parliamentary) committee is not ready to buy the argument that merely by enhancing the share of the states in the net proceeds of union taxes to 42 per cent, the central government can justify delinking SIS from central assistance,” the panel stated in its 197th report.

The committee said that while the decision on the modalities for implementing the umbrella scheme could be left to the states, financial support from the Centre should continue as states, particularly backward ones, have their own social sector commitment to meet.

The MHA, according to the report, had told the panel that it has proposed the inclusion of SIS and SRE schemes in the umbrella scheme to the Prime Minister’s Office.

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When asked whether the home ministry, PMO or finance ministry had revisited the issue of transferring eight centrally-sponsored schemes of the MHA — merged into an umbrella scheme — to the states, the MHA replied that it has written to the Secretary (Expenditure) and Principal Secretary to the PM, stressing the need for continuation of the umbrella scheme, the panel report stated.

According to the report, the home ministry admitted that SIS was useful for training infrastructure, residential infrastructure, weaponry, vehicle and other items pertaining to upgradation and filling of critical gaps for the special forces in the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected states, and therefore it has sought the revival of the scheme as a component of the umbrella scheme from 2016-17.