Rs 2,284 cr for fencing; Rs 430 cr for state police forces

The government today allocated an additional amount of Rs 2,284 crore for the construction of fencing and other infrastructure along the international borders besides sanctioning special hardship allowances to the paramilitary personnel at par with defence forces.

Presenting the Budget proposals for 2009-10 in Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee also announced that an additional amount Rs 430 crore has been sanctioned for the modernisation of state police forces across the country.

For strengthening border management and to check infiltration from across the borders, Rs 2,284 crore has been allocated for the construction of fencing, roads, flood-lights on the international borders.

The government has sanctioned special risk/hardship allowances to the personnel of paramilitary forces at par with Defence forces, Mukherjee said.

Provisions for payment of these allowances are also being proposed in the Budget.

Keeping in view the significant augmentation in the strength of paramilitary forces, the Finance Minister asked for more investment in creating the necessary infrastructure, particularly in the area of housing.

The government proposed to launch a massive programme of housing to create one lakh dwelling units for central paramilitary forces personnel.

This will not only enhance the morale of the forces, but will also enable leveraging of government's annual budgetary resources and create innovative financing models, Mukherjee said.