Central and State Authorities urged to Prevent Atrocities against SCs; Report on Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes released Report on Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes released

Dr. Justice A.S.Anand, Chairperson of the Commission has suggested that the Government adopt a rights based approach in tackling the problems of the Scheduled Castes (SCs). Releasing the `Report on Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes' prepared by Shri K B Saxena in New Delhi on 19 October 2004, Justice Anand said, it is shameful that even today members of the Scheduled Castes are marginalized and atrocities perpetrated on them despite provisions outlined in the Constitution prohibiting discrimination. He attributed the indifference of society and refusal on its part to change its mindset as one of the reasons for the exploitation of the Scheduled Castes. Other reasons being the lopsided implementation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 and the lack of political will in removing the historical injustices faced by this section of society.

Shri R.S. Kalha, Member of the Commission, said that the age-old biases and entrenched attitudes would have to be combated through education and a public information campaign. He said that the challenge was enormous as could be seen in the increasing number of crimes against SCs. He also touched on the initiatives taken by the Commission to protect the Rights of Persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes. The mind-set of society needed to be changed, he added.

A copy of the report has been sent to the Prime Minister alongwith a letter in which the Chairman has urged him to institute an appropriate monitoring mechanism at the Centre to monitor the steps being taken to prevent atrocities against persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes.

Letters have also been sent to 13 Union Ministers, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and to the Chief Ministers of all States/UTs requesting them to take action on the recommendations contained in the report.

Important Recommendations- Identify atrocity and untouchability prone areas and prepare a plan of action- Setting up of exclusive special courts where volume of atrocity cases is large- Appoint competent and committed special public prosecutors - To have a 3-tier Training programme for police and civil functionaries;- Organize an annual workshop for District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police on implementation of laws- Women officers be assigned to all atrocity prone areas, with cells established to entertain complaints- Self-help groups of Scheduled Caste women be given elementary legal training- Identify in each district a NGO which can be approached in case of custodial violence or any other atrocity- Sensitize panchayats on issues concerning the Scheduled Castes and various De-Notified Tribes - Institute annual awards for the police stations and districts, which emerge as the most responsive to the complaints of the Scheduled Castes

The decision to entrust the task of preparing the report to Shri K.B. Saxena, a retired IAS officer, was prompted by the concern felt by the Commission about the human rights violations faced by persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes.
(The Report is available on the Commission's web-site www.nhrc.nic.in)