Financial powers of paramilitary chiefs enhanced

The financial powers of all para-military chiefs has been increased under various heads including procurement of arms and ammunition which has seen a four-fold increase from existing Rs five core to Rs 20 crore.
The decision was taken by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who decided to delegate financial powers to the Directors General of Central Armed Police Forces under the Annual Procurement Plan as well as Modernisation Plan of the Forces for speeding up of the procurement process, an official statement said.
The financial powers were earlier delegated in 2009 and the present enhancement amounts to about 400 percent, which is equivalent to the maximum permissible delegated financial power.

The existing delegated powers each for procurement of arms and ammunition and machinery and equipment have been increased from Rs five crore to Rs 20 crore, it said.
The existing delegated powers for procurement of clothing and tentage is increased from Rs six crore to Rs 15 crore and for computer and peripheral items, increased from Rs 25 lakh to Rs one crore.
The paramilitary chiefs can use upto Rs 50 lakh in case of trial evaluation of new items and this has now been enhanced to Rs one crore for all except National Security Guard where it is increased to Rs two crore.

The paramilitary forces were exercising delegated financial powers regarding procurement of arms and ammunition, machinery and equipment, clothing and tentage, computer and peripheral items and procurement of items for trial and evaluation before introduction in the force.
Due to the limited financial powers, the forces were finding difficulty in timely procurement. The delegation of financial powers to para-military chiefs is expected to speed up the procurement process and strengthen the operational capabilities of the forces.