SRINAGAR: An official report from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday revealed that a sum of Rs 16,000 Crore has been disbursed by the Centre to Jammu and Kashmir for Security-Related Expenditure (SRE) in the police department and Security-Related Expenditure for Relief and Rehabilitation.
The MHA’s annual report for the year 2022-23, states that to support the Government of the Union Territory of J&K in its initiatives, the Central Government has consistently provided Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) as needed and has played a pivotal role in bolstering the J&K Police.
The Ministry of Home Affairs reimburses the expenses incurred by the UT of J&K on various security-related measures. These include expenses for the constabulary, material supplies, rent for accommodation, honorarium for Special Police Officers (SPOs), Civic Action Programmes, air-lift charges, raising costs of India Reserve Battalions, transportation, boarding and lodging, alternate accommodation for security forces, and more,” the report states. “The total amount reimbursed from 1989 to December 31, 2022, to the UT of J&K under Security-Related Expenditure (Police) is Rs 10,528.72 crore, and under Security-Related Expenditure for Relief and Rehabilitation (SRE-R&R), it is Rs 5,348.68 crore.
The MHA report further indicates that in the current financial year, 2022-23, a sum of Rs 308.98 crore has been reimbursed to the J&K Government under SRE (P), and Rs 198.62 crore has been reimbursed under SRE (Relief and Rehabilitation) until December 31, 2022.
The report goes on to mention that during the 2022-23 financial year (up to December 31, 2022), a sum of Rs 2.51 crore has been released under the Security-Related Expenditure (Security Environment) Scheme.
The report explains that due to the “serious militancy” situation in J&K, the Government of J&K incurs additional expenditure to maintain peace and tranquillity. To address this, a distinct Security-Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme was introduced in J&K in 1989-90. This scheme provides for 90 percent and 100 percent reimbursement of expenditure respectively under SRE (Police) to support the logistical needs of the police force in combating militancy and SRE (Relief & Rehabilitation) to assist Kashmiri migrants who were displaced from the valley during the period of militancy, along with other relief and rehabilitation measures. (KNO)
