Union Home Minister highlights steps to make the country safe & secure; Says it has been an year of consolidation

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has said it has been an year of consolidation as the Government has taken a series of proactive steps to make the country safe and secure. He was addressing a Press Conference here today to mark the one year of NDA Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

The Home Minister underlined the need to uphold the Constitutional provisions to ensure the sanctity of Centre-State relations. On the issue of Black Money, he reminded that one of the first steps taken by the Government after assuming office was to constitute an SIT and subsequent legal measures have been put in place to curb this menace. Shri Singh said that efforts are on to tackle the threat of terrorism and the Government is in constant touch with various agencies to ward off such threats. Effective Border Management has been put in place to counter the threat of cross-border terrorism, he added. On the issue of relief to farmers affected by unseasonal rains and hailstorm, the Home Minister said the quantum of compensation under the NDRF and SDRF has been more than doubled and now the farmers with crop loss between 33% and 49% have been made eligible to seek the financial assistance.

Following are the highlights of the work done by the Ministry in the last one year:

Security Scenario

· Overall security scenario in the country continues to remain peaceful barring incidents of a blast in Burdwan (West Bengal) and minor IED blast in Bengaluru.

· Security situation in North Eastern States is being monitored regularly at various levels, with sustained CI operations against militant outfits.

· LWE violence is down by 22% in 2014 over previous year. However recent attacks in Chhattisgarh are a cause of concern.

· Security Forces neutralized 132 terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir, during 2014 and the current year.

Jammu & Kashmir

· Peaceful conduct of Assembly Elections in J&K, - from November 25 to December 20, 2014 - high voter turnout of 66%.

· ‘UDAAN’ scheme launched aiming to provide employment to the unemployed youth of Jammu & Kashmir. Trained 3,361 candidates, 3,133 candidates offered jobs, about 2,500 are working in various companies in the country.

· Cash relief to the Kashmiri migrants in Jammu and Delhi/ NCR enhanced w.e.f. 1st May 2015 from Rs.1,650/- per head per month to Rs.2,500/- per head per month, subject to a maximum of Rs.10,000 per family enhanced from Rs.6,600 per family.

Foreigners Division

· e-Tourist Visa scheme launched on 27th November 2014 covers 74 countries and 9 Indian airports; 1,35,000 people so far benefited.

· Merger of PIO & OCI schemes by enactment of Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2015.

Disaster Management

· During 2014-15, loss to life & property minimized due to prompt response to major disasters like cyclone HUDHUD in AP and Odisha, floods and landslides in J&K. 7 lakh people rescued.

· Immediate relief and assistance provided through NDRF to Nepal after the recent earthquake.

Policy initiatives under Disaster Management

· SDRF & NDRF Compensation more than doubled to next of kin of deceased persons from Rs.1.5 lakh to Rs. 4 lakh. Farmers, with crop loss between 33% and 49%, made eligible for assistance.

· Local disasters like lightning, heat wave etc., now covered for relief under SDRF.

· Battalions under NDRF increased from 10 to 12.

· Allocation in SDRF almost doubled from Rs.33,583 crore during 2010-15 to Rs. 61,219 cr during 2015-20.

Border Management

· Border Infrastructure: 50 Km of roads, 103 Km of fencing, 218 Km of flood lighting and 39 BOPs completed (on Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Pakistan border).

· 14 km LED Pilot Project for floodlighting in Punjab Sector has been completed.

· Integrated Check Post (ICP) building completed at Raxaul on India-Nepal border. Cargo Terminal of ICP Agartala inaugurated.

· Rs. 800 Crore released to the Bordering States for development of the socio-economic infrastructure in the bordering villages under BADP.

· Trial Bus service runs between Guwahati and Dhaka undertaken.

· Bus service between Delhi and Kathmandu commenced.

Sikh Riots

· Additional compensation for Next of Kin of 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims; Justice Mathur Committee to re-investigate deserving riot cases.

Police Reforms

· 58% police stations across the country have started using CCTNS to register FIRs.

Police Welfare

· 3,531 Houses and 92 barracks constructed for CAPF personnel.

· Grant of Rs.37 crore provided to the CAPFs and Assam Rifles for payment of ex- gratia compensation to the Next of Kin of deceased.

· Delhi Police launched a web-based App. for ‘Police Clearance Certificate’ (PCC) and the mobile app 'Himmat' on January 1, 2015.

Women/children Safety

· Approved recruitment of 2,772 Mahila personnel in 21 companies of SSB.

· Approved 33%reservation for women in direct recruitment in Non-Gazetted posts from Constable to Sub-Inspector in the CAPFs & police forces of all the UTs including Delhi Police.

· Project to set up an “Emergency Response System” for Women in Distress funded under the Nirbhaya Fund fast tracked.

· Detailed advisories issued to tackle crimes against women including acid attack on women.

· States/UTs advised to launch a dedicated campaign for rescuing missing children. More than 3,000 children rescued during this operation.

CYBER CRIMES

· An Expert Group constituted to prepare a Road Map to effectively tackle Cyber Crimes.

· Another Expert Committee set up to suggest changes in Information Technology Act, Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code & Evidence Act etc. to deal with cybercrimes more effectively.

National Population Register

· Biometric capture of more than 28.44 crore persons, completed under NPR, by the office of Registrar General of India so far. Total biometric enrolment including the enrolment done by Unique Identification Authority of India now 85 crore.

UT Matters

· Introduction of weekly chartered flight services from Port Blair to Car Nicobar. Another chartered flight introduced between Chennai and Port Blair.

· Contract for acquisition of two ships signed at a cost of US $ 29.26 million will enhance the frequency of service of ships which in turn will improve the passenger movement and cargo traffic and will give boost to tourism to Lakshadweep.

During the Press Conference, the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh was accompanied by the Ministers of State for Home Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju and Shri Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary. The Union Home Secretary Shri LC Goyal, Secretary (Border Management) Shri Anoop Kumar Srivastava and Secretary (Official Language) Shri SK Srivastava were also present. Director General, Press Information Bureau Shri Frank Noronha conducted the Press Conference.

Courtesy: pib.nic.in