NEW DELHI: Seventy years after Independence, the Centre is planning to holistically overhaul the structures and processes of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The move is aimed at better management of internal security issues in keeping with emerging challenges such as radicalisation and cyber crimes amid a rapidly changing security environment.
The restructuring is the brainchild of Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who has suggested that all responses to internal security aspects should be directed to remove difficulties, improve technological capabilities, building expertise and smart policing.
In addition, toning up the criminal justice system and long-term planning on internal security issues such as terrorism and narcotics is also part of the changes. “Public order is a prerequisite for economic growth, which in turn fosters public order. The growing size of the Indian economy coupled with the increasing challenges on the security front and revisiting the security architecture is the need of the hour,” a senior MHA official said.
Due to the lack of scientific specifications, the agencies have in the past faced problems in buying high-altitude clothing for security forces, in field trials of the skunk (stink) bomb sourced from Israel, and problems being faced by the ITBP due to technological information inadequacies, Mehrishi underscored in meetings.
The MHA also wants enhanced coordination between agencies to create an information database covering every aspect of public order, including intelligence.
As an initial exercise, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday sought suggestions of the Consultative Committee of Members of Parliament attached to the MHA for generating new ideas for reorganising the ministry.