NHRC holds an Open House Discussion on Prevention of Atrocities and Other Forms of Discrimination Against SC/ST Community

New Delhi, 23rd June, 2023

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India organized an Open House Discussion on ‘Prevention of Atrocities and Other Forms of Discrimination Against SC/ST Community : Issues, Challenges and Way Forward’ today on 23rd June, 2023. Chairing it, the NHRC Member, Dr. Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay said that despite the enabling laws and legal provisions, the atrocities and discrimination against the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Communities have not stopped. He said that the objective of such deliberations is to take stock of the various provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989; identify the gaps between the legal provisions and implementation to suggest the way forward to prevent the atrocities against them.

Dr. Mulay said that continued efforts need to be made for the social and economic emancipation of the SC and ST communities. Quoting some recent media reports about the acts of violence and discrimination against the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Communities, he said that besides ensuring the effective implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, it will be necessary to educate people, build awareness and ensure conviction of the people violating human rights of the persons belonging to the SC/ST communities. He said that conviction is necessary in such cases for deterrence.

Earlier, triggering the session Mr. Devendra Kumar Nim, Joint Secretary, NHRC said that the atrocities against the SC/ST Communitiesand the low conviction rate is a matter of concern.

The following agendas were discussed:

1. Impact assessment of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 in order to suggest measures to strengthen it;

2. How to strengthen the administrative regimefor prevention of atrocities on SC/STs;

3. How to address theconcerns over incidences of discrimination in education and employment in varoius institutions and departments.

Besides, the NHRC Registrar (Law), Mr. SurajitDey, and the other senior officers, the participants included the representatives from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Delhi Police, domain experts, academicians, representatives of civil society and NGOs.

*****