As part of an elevated approach to counteract drug and digital crimes in the state of Telangana, a significant portion of the state home department’s budget has been assigned to support two key bureaus. A total of 37.52 crores have been set aside for the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TG-ANB), and additionally, 27.57 crores have been designated for the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau. This move denotes a paradigm shift in allocation when compared to the preceding budget which saw the bureaus receiving only 3.07 and 9.09 crores respectively.
With this increased funding, a substantial part will be directed towards remunerating the dedicated personnel serving in these two crucial sectors. Moreover, the residual allocation will facilitate additional enhancements like the building of new police stations and the acquisition of necessary vehicles required for these bureaus. These initiatives are seen as crucial steps in equipping these sectors for the increasing challenges they face.
In a broad picture, it was noted that the overall state budget has reserved a figure of 9,564 crores for the home department. Even though this figure represents a decrease of 35 crores from February 2023’s allocation, the proportion of the entire budget pie earmarked for the department remains the same, holding at 3% of the total disbursement.
During the budget presentation, Finance Minister Bhatti Vikramarka stated the government’s plan to set up an autonomous mechanism specifically for the trial of drug-related offenses. The objective of this system is to expedite the conviction process of those implicated in drug-related infringements. The implementation of this new protocol is also aimed at acting as a potent deterrent to potential wrongdoers.
Minister Vikramarka also commented on the climbing incidence of cybercrimes in Telangana. He noted that the Cyber Security Bureau had been strengthened recently with the addition of new operational vehicles. This move is seen as part of the government’s strategy to equip its forces to face the fast-evolving face of cybercrime.
Further addressing cybercrime-related matters, the Minister articulated on-going efforts to empower the police force with modern crime-solving techniques and tools. Prior to these changes, the state offered limited facilities for lodging cybercrime complaints – only four dedicated stations existed for this purpose. The government, however, in an effort to expand access to justice, has made sure that all police stations in the state are equipped to register such complaints now.
In a final note, Minister Vikramarka added that efforts have been made to equip the department’s staff to effectively enforce recently introduced criminal laws. These dedicated training efforts are critical in adapting to the changing socio-legal landscape and enabling effective law enforcement across the state.