As per statistics provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs, total number of cases relating to offences of atrocities against Scheduled Castes, registered by Police in the country during the calendar years 2007, 2008 & 2009, under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, were 29,825, 33,367 and 33,426, respectively.
The reasons for increase can, among other things, be attributed to improvement in the registration of cases under the Act, owing to steps taken by the concerned State Governments which implement the Act, and increasing awareness amongst the target groups.
As per statistics of the NCRB, for calendar years 2007, 2008 & 2009, registered cases of rape against Scheduled Castes were 1349, 1457 and 1346, respectively.
As per the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, the subject matter of criminal offences against members of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, including those under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, is allocated to Ministry of Home Affairs. That Ministry has been advising the State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations from time to time regarding steps that need to be taken to provide adequate protection to SCs and STs. These advisories include sensitization and training of the police personnel/ law enforcement agencies, minimizing delays in investigation of cases of atrocities against SCs/STs and improving the quality of investigation, programmes for creating awareness among vulnerable sections of the society and legal recourse open to them and setting up of special courts. The State Governments have also been requested to take appropriate measures aimed at increasing the responsiveness of the law enforcement/ law and order machinery. MHA has issued latest Advisory on 01.04.2010.
A Committee has been constituted in year 2006, under the Chairpersonship of Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, for effective coordination to devise ways and means to curb offences of untouchability and atrocities against SCs/STs and effective implementation of the Protection of Civil rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Representatives of concerned Central Ministries viz, Ministries of Home Affairs, Law & Justice, Social Justice & Empowerment and Tribal Affairs are amongst the members of the Committee. The Committee has so far held thirteen meetings wherein implementation of the above two Acts in 24 States and 4 Union Territories has been reviewed.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment Shri D. Napolean in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
courtesy: PIB , feb 24/11
