Interim budget: 16% hike in Home Ministry's budget

Home Ministry has received a 16 per cent jump in the 2014-15 interim budget over its allocation last year, with the focus this time on, among others, schemes for safety of women in Delhi and creation of special infrastructure in Naxal-affected states.

Out of a total budget package of Rs 59,387 crore for Home Ministry, Finance Minister P Chidambaram earmarked Rs 2 crore for schemes for women's safety in Delhi, Rs 789.08 crore for security-related expenses and Rs 600 crore for modernization of police forces.

The country's largest paramilitary force, CRPF, has been given Rs 12,236.82 crore in 2014-15 as against the Rs 11,373.72 crore which it had received in 2013-14. BSF has been extended Rs 11,221.77 crore for the next fiscal. In 2013-14, the force which guards the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders had been given Rs 10,378.77 crore.

CISF, which protects vital installations like airports and, among others, Delhi Metro, received Rs 4,727.69 crore as compared to the Rs 4,391.49 crore it got in the last budget.

Assam Rifles, which plays a key role in anti-insurgency operations in the northeast and guards the Indo-Myanmar border, has been allowed Rs 3,580.21 crore. In 2013-14, it had received Rs 3,358 crore.

ITBP, which guards the icy heights along the Sino-Indian border, has been given Rs 3,077.50 crore against the Rs 3,124.11 crore it received this fiscal.

SSB, which protects the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders, has received an allocation of Rs 3,062.82 crore. In 2014-15, the force had been given Rs 2,763.40 crore.

The Interim Budget has also earmarked Rs 1,196.43 crore for Intelligence Bureau, Rs 241.20 crore for the Bureau of Immigration, Rs 59.40 crore for Narcotics Control Bureau and Rs 101.03 crore for the National Investigation Agency.

The Special Protection Group, which protects the Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and their immediate family members, has been given Rs 408.98 crore in comparison to Rs 321.24 crore last year.

Rs 11.37 crore has been allocated for developing traffic and communication networks and model traffic systems in NCR, Rs 11.50 crore for installation of traffic signals in the national capital and Rs 110 crore for construction of fortified police stations in Naxal-affected states.

Rs 1,713.49 crore has been given for construction of residential facilities for police forces while Rs 206 crore has been set aside for improving immigration services with the setting up of border and integrated checkposts.

For carrying out various works along the Sino-Indian, Indo-Pak, Indo-Bangladesh, Indo-Nepal, Indo-Bhutan and Indo- Myanmar borders, the Finance Minister has granted Rs 2,150 crore in the next fiscal.