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| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Flagging under-utilisation of funds under critical heads such as Nirbhaya Fund instituted for women safety schemes, prison modernisation and no significant allocation to conduct a Census, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs criticised the Union Home Ministry for “inefficiency” at a meeting on Friday (February 21, 2025).
During the ongoing recess in the Budget session, the panel headed by BJP MP Radha Mohan Das Agrawal is examining the Union Budget allocation for the Home Ministry.
Also read | WCD Minister criticises Delhi, West Bengal for failing to implement Central schemes for women’s safety
According to a source, MPs from the Trinamool Congress in the meeting raised the issue of Nirbhaya Fund being underutilised and said almost two-thirds of the fund had not been used. The Ministry uses the Nirbhaya Fund to implement projects that make cities safer for women. Similarly, in modernisation of prisons — the budgetary allocation for 2024-25 was ₹300 crore but only ₹75 crore was utilised.
The members also questioned the nearly 80% hike under the head — ‘Border Infrastructure and Management’. In the latest Budget, ₹5,597.25 crore has been earmarked, which is an increase of ₹1,840.74 crore from the ₹3,756.51 crore allocated last year. “No explanation was forthcoming as to what the government plans to do. For a State like ours which shares an extensive border with Bangladesh, we should be kept in the loop,” a senior Trinamool Congress MP said.
The members also expressed concern over no significant allocation for the decennial Census. “The Census was due to be conducted in 2021, it is already long overdue. This year’s Budget also shows that the government is not prepared to hold the Census. Not holding Census delays delimitation and therefore also implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill, that the government passed with pomp and show,” a senior Opposition leader said.
Congress MP Ajay Maken expressed concern that in comparison to several other States, Delhi has recorded high rates of crime against women and children in the National Capital, and also regarding the Delhi Police’s record on the pendency of cases. A BJP MP also urged the Ministry to review its decisions to keep the barricades at Singhu border in light of the farmers’ protest.
On Thursday, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan had made a presentation on the demands for grants of the Home Ministry, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Central Police Organisations (CPOs).
On Friday, the Home Secretary made presentations on demand for grants for the Delhi Police, Union Territories of Delhi, Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Published – February 21, 2025 11:21 pm IST
