New criminal laws, technology integration, disaster mitigation, eradicating Left Wing Extremism: Policy highlights of Modi 3.0

New Delhi [India], September 18 (ANI): The implementation of three new criminal laws, integrating the use of technology to seamlessly aid in criminal justice, to bringing amendments to the Disaster Management Act, and a plan to eradicate Left Wing Extremism by March 2026, the first hundred days of Modi 3.0 government has been filled with various achievements, a senior Home Ministry official said on Wednesday.

The Home Ministry has also updated the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) application to incorporate the new criminal laws

“Software patches have been designed and deployed in ICJS Pillar Applications to incorporate the new criminal laws. The key changes in Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), e-Prisons, e-Forensics, e-Prosecution are use of audio-video electronic means and electronic communication among others,” the official said.

Additionally, reportedly around more than 8 lakhs officers have been trained by various organisations including the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), National Informatics Centre (NIC) for the criminal laws, which has allowed the officials to register a total of 5.56 lakh FIRs under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)

The Ministry also highlighted the use mobile and web application ‘NCRB SANKALAN’ and e-Shakshya, which is meant to aid users in navigating the new criminal laws.

“‘NCRB SANKALAN of Criminal Laws,’ has been designed to help users navigate the new criminal laws and till date has been downloaded approximately 5.85 lakh times. Also, CCTNS Technical Support Call Centre with helpline number has been set up by National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) to assist States and Union Territories. Development of various apps such as e-Sakshya for capturing, storing, and retrieving evidence through videography and photography, which has been onboarded by 22 States/UTs and tested by 24 States/UTs,” the official added.

Speaking on the amendments to the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which are meant to provide clarity on the roles of different organisations working to aid in disaster management.

The officials said, “The aim of the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was to bring more clarity and convergence in the roles of different Central Government organisations: the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Executive Committee (NEC ), to provide statutory status to certain pre-Act organizations like National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and High-Level Committee (HLC), to create a database at the national and state level, to make provision for creation of Urban Disaster Management Authority, make provisions for the creation of a State Disaster Response Force and to align the provisions of the Act with the recommendations of 15th Finance Commission.”

A total of Rs 12,554 crores has been sanctioned so far from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund, National Disaster Response Fund, State Disaster Mitigation Fund and State Disaster Response Fund to various States for urban flood management, fire services, glacial lake outburst flood risk mitigation and other disaster mitigation.

Additionally, to facilitate an integrated urban flood management project, Rs2514 crores have been sanctioned, with the implementation of ‘Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme’ approved, to train community volunteers to be first responders during disasters.

“Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme approved as an extension of existing program of ‘Upscaling of Aapda Mitra Scheme with an outlay of Rs 470.50 Crore.

Moreover, 2.31 lakh volunteers exclusively from National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS) Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and Bharat Scouts and Guides (BS&G) and 1300 trainers will be trained in disaster response under Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme. Till now, approximately 1 lakh community volunteers trained and equipped in 350 multi-hazards disaster prone districts, covering all Stats/UTs under Aapda Mitra Scheme,” the official said.

Highlighting the various efforts to ensure peace in disturbed regions in the country, the government has till now signed a Memoramdum of Settlement (MoS) with the government of Tripura and representatives of National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF).

“A Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed among Government of India, Government of Tripura and representatives of National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) ending 35-year-long conflict in the State of Tripura. With the signing of this historic agreement, more than 328 armed cadres of NLFT & ATTF will give up violence and join the mainstream of society. The agreement is a significant milestone to fulfil Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a peaceful, prosperous and insurgency-free North East. About 328 cadres of ATTF and NLFT of Tripura will be rehabilitated and benefitted under the surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy,” the official added.

Additionally, a special development package of Rs 250 crores was also approved to be given over a period of four years for the overall development of tribal population in Tripura.

Additionally, the last phase to end Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in states like Chhattisgarh was started in August 2024, with the aim of complete eradication of LWE by March 2026.

The official said, “Filling up of security vacuum and intelligence-based operations. Speedy investigation and prosecution of LWE cases. Targeting the LWE ecosystem saturation of Govt. Schemes in Core areas. Home Ministry and Chhattisgarh Government will jointly run a campaign to educate people left illiterate due to LWE. The Chhattisgarh government will soon bring a new surrender policy so that youth will be able to give up arms and join the mainstream and a complete eradication of LWE menace by March, 2026.”

The Ministry has also launched new initiatives to tackle cybercrime, by creating a special wing of ‘Cyber Commandos’.

The official added, “A Special Wing of trained ‘Cyber Commandos’ in States / UTs and CPOs will be established to counter threats of cyber security landscape in the country. Trained Cyber Commandos will assist States/UTs and Central Agencies in securing the digital space. 5,000 Cyber Commando to be trained in period of Five years. The training of senior Police officers has commenced at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), Hyderabad with effect from 2nd September 2024.”