Major chunk of JK’s budget spent on law & order, internal security

Srinagar: Maintenance of law & order and internal security situation in Jammu & Kashmir continues to consume a major chunk of its budget as Rs 9200 crore have been proposed to be spent on Home department during the next fiscal.
For 2020-21, the government has allocated 9216 crore for Home department, which is the administrative department of J&K Police. The police force is responsible for maintenance of law and order and internal security situation in J&K.
Of the allocations of Home department, Rs 8145 crore have been allocated for revenue expenditure and Rs 1111 crore for capital expenditure, documents reveal.
The records reveal that 69. 70 per cent of revenue budget of J&K’s administrative sector is being spent on Home department. “The total revenue budget of administrative sector is Rs 11627 crore, of which expenditure to the extent of 69.70 percent is to be spent on Home department,” reads the document.
Similarly, 53.57 percent of capital expenditure budget of administrative sector is being utilised by Home department. “The total capital expenditure of administrative sector is Rs 2074 crore, of which expenditure to the extent of 53.57 % is expected to be spent on Home department,” reads one document.
After the outbreak of armed conflict in Kashmir 1989, there has been massive increase in allocations of Home department entrusted with the task of maintaining law and order situation and fighting militancy.
In the past three decades, thousands of youth have been recruited in police to deal with internal security situation and law & order maintenance.
Presently, the strength of J&K police is over one lakh, which includes special police officers (SPOs). Apart from police, the Home department is also the administrative department of Prisons, Fire & Emergency Services, Sainik Welfare, Forensic Science Laboratory, Prosecution and Defence Labour Procurement Departments