Addressing a Press Conference here today to mark the first 100 days in office of the Government, the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh assured that the Central Government will not let money come in the way of providing relief to the marooned people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Terming the worst floods in J&K in more than a century as a 'massive tragedy', the Union Home Minister said the State Government already had at its disposal a sum of Rupees 1,100 crore under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), and Rs. 1,000 crore additional special project assistance has been announced by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi under the Prime Minister's Special Relief Package. The Home Minister asked the State Government to submit an assessment report on the loss to life and property at the earliest. Shri Rajnath Singh said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Armed Forces have launched massive rescue and relief operations in flood ravaged J&K.
Drawing up the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants as his Government's priority, Shri Rajnath Singh said the NDA Government has approved a Rs.500 crore package towards this end and it would be implemented with the cooperation of all stakeholders including the State Government. He said the financial aid to Kashmiri Migrants has been hiked from Rs.6,600 per month to Rs.10,000 per month.
On beefing up Internal Security, the Union Home Minister said an Integrated Action Plan has been drawn up. Appealing the Maoists and militants to lay down arms and reiterating peaceful dialogue, Shri Rajnath Singh said the BSF and SSB will raise two battalions to rehabilitate militants who lay down arms. Pointing out that in the first 100 days of the NDA Government more than 130 Maoists have surrendered, a figure that is three times more than the number during the same period last year, the Union Home Minister said the Center has taken a decision to erect nearly 2,200 mobile phone towers in the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas.
Referring to his two-day visit to Gujarat that also took him to border areas, the Union Home Minister said Roads and Communication Infrastructure is being boosted. He said the MHA has approved the proposal of the High-Level Committee which recommended Rs.650 crore for building 'Border Infrastructure Projects' besides sanctioning Rs. 520 crore in the last four months towards related projects.
Promising to create a world class border infrastructure, Shri Rajnath Singh said a big hurdle has been overcome when he took up with the Ministry of Environment and Forests to keep all Border Infrastructure Projects within a 100 kilometers periphery of the International Borders outside the purview of 'Environmental Clearance'. The Union Home Minister said Coastal Security too has been constantly beefed up and as many as three States, Guajarat, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have completed Colour Coding of fishing vessels.
The Union Home Minister said the Online Visa Application System has been launched in 12 missions abroad during the last three months, taking the total to 152. He said the MHA has started 'Visa on Arrival' facility at nine airports, a move that would turn out to be a fillip for the tourism industry. Shri Rajnath Singh said a Task Force has been constituted in the MHA on Visa and Citizenship issues that would address the long pending problems faced by minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
On Police Reforms and Modernization programme, the Union Home Minister said an advisory has been issued to all States to strive for gender equality and ensure 33 percent posts are filled up with women personnel in State Police Forces up to the rank of Sub-Inspector. Union Territories have already taken the first step in this direction, he added. Shri Rajnath Singh said Rs. 1,500 crore have been earmarked in the Union Budget for Police Modernization, while the Central Government has released Rs.825 crore to different States under this programme and another Rs.200 crore has been released this month.
Promising cordial Centre-State relations, Shri Rajnath Singh appreciated the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for the smooth transition into a new era. He also claimed that the proactive initiatives of the NDA Government in the North-East resulted in the United Naga Council calling off its blockade at the shortest possible time instead of months-long blockades earlier.
Underlining his Government's deep sensitivities towards the suffering of the increasing number of Under-trials, Shri Rajnath Singh said he has written to all State Governments to take steps to alleviate their pain and set free at least those under-trials who have completed half of their maximum term for which they could be sentenced.
During the press conference, a Booklet on the Achievements of the Ministry of Home Affairs in first 100 days was also distributed. The Booklet is accessible on the following link:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/pdfdisplay.aspx?docid=313
Terming the worst floods in J&K in more than a century as a 'massive tragedy', the Union Home Minister said the State Government already had at its disposal a sum of Rupees 1,100 crore under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), and Rs. 1,000 crore additional special project assistance has been announced by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi under the Prime Minister's Special Relief Package. The Home Minister asked the State Government to submit an assessment report on the loss to life and property at the earliest. Shri Rajnath Singh said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Armed Forces have launched massive rescue and relief operations in flood ravaged J&K.
Drawing up the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants as his Government's priority, Shri Rajnath Singh said the NDA Government has approved a Rs.500 crore package towards this end and it would be implemented with the cooperation of all stakeholders including the State Government. He said the financial aid to Kashmiri Migrants has been hiked from Rs.6,600 per month to Rs.10,000 per month.
On beefing up Internal Security, the Union Home Minister said an Integrated Action Plan has been drawn up. Appealing the Maoists and militants to lay down arms and reiterating peaceful dialogue, Shri Rajnath Singh said the BSF and SSB will raise two battalions to rehabilitate militants who lay down arms. Pointing out that in the first 100 days of the NDA Government more than 130 Maoists have surrendered, a figure that is three times more than the number during the same period last year, the Union Home Minister said the Center has taken a decision to erect nearly 2,200 mobile phone towers in the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas.
Referring to his two-day visit to Gujarat that also took him to border areas, the Union Home Minister said Roads and Communication Infrastructure is being boosted. He said the MHA has approved the proposal of the High-Level Committee which recommended Rs.650 crore for building 'Border Infrastructure Projects' besides sanctioning Rs. 520 crore in the last four months towards related projects.
Promising to create a world class border infrastructure, Shri Rajnath Singh said a big hurdle has been overcome when he took up with the Ministry of Environment and Forests to keep all Border Infrastructure Projects within a 100 kilometers periphery of the International Borders outside the purview of 'Environmental Clearance'. The Union Home Minister said Coastal Security too has been constantly beefed up and as many as three States, Guajarat, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have completed Colour Coding of fishing vessels.
The Union Home Minister said the Online Visa Application System has been launched in 12 missions abroad during the last three months, taking the total to 152. He said the MHA has started 'Visa on Arrival' facility at nine airports, a move that would turn out to be a fillip for the tourism industry. Shri Rajnath Singh said a Task Force has been constituted in the MHA on Visa and Citizenship issues that would address the long pending problems faced by minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
On Police Reforms and Modernization programme, the Union Home Minister said an advisory has been issued to all States to strive for gender equality and ensure 33 percent posts are filled up with women personnel in State Police Forces up to the rank of Sub-Inspector. Union Territories have already taken the first step in this direction, he added. Shri Rajnath Singh said Rs. 1,500 crore have been earmarked in the Union Budget for Police Modernization, while the Central Government has released Rs.825 crore to different States under this programme and another Rs.200 crore has been released this month.
Promising cordial Centre-State relations, Shri Rajnath Singh appreciated the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for the smooth transition into a new era. He also claimed that the proactive initiatives of the NDA Government in the North-East resulted in the United Naga Council calling off its blockade at the shortest possible time instead of months-long blockades earlier.
Underlining his Government's deep sensitivities towards the suffering of the increasing number of Under-trials, Shri Rajnath Singh said he has written to all State Governments to take steps to alleviate their pain and set free at least those under-trials who have completed half of their maximum term for which they could be sentenced.
During the press conference, a Booklet on the Achievements of the Ministry of Home Affairs in first 100 days was also distributed. The Booklet is accessible on the following link:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/pdfdisplay.aspx?docid=313
