The government today informed the Parliament that India has about 137 police personnel to protect every one lakh people in the country.
Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Hansraj G Ahir said that a total of 298 VIPs and VVIPs are also being provided central security cover under various categories.
Minister of State for Home Hansraj G Ahir told Lok Sabha in a written reply that as per data on police organisations published by the Bureau of Police Research and Development, the police-public ratio (per lakh of population) in the country as on January 1, 2016 is 180.59.
However, the elaborate data provided by Ahir in this regard stated that the "actual" strength of the police personnel (per one lakh people) is 137.11.
Talking about VVIP security, he said out of the total 298 such protectees under the central cover, 26 are under the top category of Z+, 58 under Z, 144 in Y+, 2 in Y and 68 in the lowest categorisation of X.
Ahir also said 14 protectees under the Z+ category are under the cover of the black cats commando force National Security Guard (NSG).
"NSG has deployed 551 security personnel for the protection of these protectees," he said.
Ahir added the total data on expenditure made for VIP security is not maintained centrally.
"As regards expenditure on security, it is difficult to determine it precisely as it includes salary and allowances to security personnel, communication, transport vehicles, among others which are accounted for under respective budget heads of different security agencies, including state government agencies providing security cover.
"Such details are not compiled centrally." he said.
He added "certain categories of individuals" like union ministers, chief ministers and judges of Supreme Court and High Courts are provided "positional or statutory security cover to facilitate bold and impartial decision making".
"Their security is withdrawn after they demit their office," he said.
(With PTI inputs)
