'Crime rate reduced significantly during BJP rule in Rajasthan'

Rajasthan has witnessed a significant decline in crime rate in the last four years, Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria said Thursday.

Total crime has reduced by 13.4 per cent as compared in 2013. Crime against women has reduced by 20.4 per cent and crime against SC/ST has reduced by nearly 42 per cent, he told reporters here after a review meeting of the department.

He said the budget of the police department was increased to over 24,000 crore during 2014-18. It was nearly 13,000 crore during 2009-13.

Kataria said 5,000 missing children were rescued and handed over to their families by conducting special drives. Steps taken by the department has also led to dip in road- related accidents in the state, he said.

He said the government focused on giving promotions and filling vacant positions. A total of 20,000 employees, including 6,000 constables, were promoted in the last four years. On the lines of the NDRF, a state-level force was empowered by giving intense training to over 200 employees. Rs 8 crore were spent on procuring required equipment, he said.

He said Rs 275 crore, including Rs 165 crore by the Centre and Rs 110 crore by the state, were made available for Sardar Patel Global Centre for Security, Counter Terrorism and Anti-Insurgency Centre.

Kataria said the state government has worked to provide required equipments, including bullet proof jackets, advanced weapons, drones, dog squad etc. to deal with crime.