Under-utilisation of funds by Ladakh: Parl Panel

NEW DELHI, Mar 14:
A Parliamentary Committee has expressed disappointment that women constitute only 3.68 per cent of the total strength of Central Armed Police Forces like the CRPF and BSF and asked the Union Home Ministry to take concrete steps to increase the representation of women in the Central Police organisations.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, headed by Congress leader Anand Sharma, observed that in 2016, it was decided by the Central Government to reserve 33 per cent posts at constable level for being filled by women in the CRPF and CISF to begin with and 14-15 per cent posts at constable level in border guarding forces — the BSF, SSB and ITBP.
“The committee is disappointed to note that women constitute only 3.68 percent of the total strength of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The committee recommends that MHA should take concrete steps to increase the representation of women in CAPFs,” the committee said in its report submitted to Rajya Sabha on Monday.
The panel said the Union Territories without legislature have utilised approximately 66.83 per cent of the total allocation made to them in BE 2021-22 till January, 2022.
“The committee is disappointed to note the persistent under-utilisation of funds by the UT of Ladakh. The committee recommends that the MHA should closely monitor the fund utilisation by Ladakh in the ensuing year and take necessary corrective steps for enhanced utilisation of funds in the UT,” the report said.
“The committee believes that proper utilisation of funds is very important, failing which, it may lead to cuts by the Finance Ministry and weaken the case for enhanced allocations in subsequent years,” the report said. (PTI)