New Delhi [India]: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, announced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that the central government has approved the ‘Assistance to States and Union Territories for Modernization of Police (ASUMP)’ scheme. The scheme, with a total outlay of ₹4846 crore, will run for five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Rai stated that the scheme aims to adequately equip State and Union Territory police forces by improving infrastructure.
“The focus of the scheme is to strengthen police infrastructure at the cutting-edge level by equipping police stations with modern technology, weaponry, and communication equipment, along with constructing new police stations across all States and UTs,” he said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
In addition, the central government has approved the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched on February 15, 2023, for the comprehensive development of select villages in 46 blocks located along the northern border. These villages are spread across 19 districts in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Rai informed that 662 border villages have been identified for priority development under the VVP.
“Under VVP, ₹150 crore and ₹209 crore have been allocated for the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25, respectively. The States and UTs, as the primary implementing agencies, are responsible for fund utilization,” he added.
Regarding the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS), Rai revealed that 49,189 scholarships have been distributed since the scheme’s inception in 2006-07 until 2023-24 to support the wards and widows of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and State Police Personnel.
“Out of the total sanctioned amount of ₹139.96 crore, a total of ₹139.94 crore has already been disbursed as of 2023-24,” the Minister added.
He also mentioned that the merit list for PMSS for the academic year 2024-25 will be generated after March 2025.