The Chhattisgarh government has completely failed in checking atrocities against people belonging to SC and ST communities and has not implemented Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 (PCRA 1955) and Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989 (PAA 1989) effectively in the state. The revelation about condition of SC and ST people was made by Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik while he was interacting with the media persons after holding a review meeting about implementation of PCRA 1955 and PAA 1989 at New Circuit House on Tuesday.
He informed that the pendency of atrocity against SC/ST cases in the state was high while conviction rate was much below the national average. “Besides, the figures provided by the state government to the Centre on cases of atrocities against SC/ST people do not match with those of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). This was surprising because the NCRB prepares reports on the basis of figures it obtains from the state governments,” said Wasnik.
“We have asked the state government to look at how to address this issue and to undertake a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the machinery in tackling the problems faced by the members of the SC and ST communities and take appropriate measures aimed at increasing the responsiveness of the law and order machinery,” he added.
Wasnik pointed out that about 80 percent of the cases of atrocities against SC/ST people were pending before courts in state while conviction rate too was much low, i.e. 28 percent.
“We have asked the state government to reduce the pendency of prevention of atrocity cases and increase exclusive special courts in districts where pendency is high,” he said.
“We are deeply concerned about the crime committed against the members of SC/ST and other vulnerable sections of society in the state and hence, have asked the state government to ensure holding of periodic meetings of the high power state level vigilance and monitoring committees under the chairpersonship of Chief Minister and likewise such district level committees under the chairpersonship of the Collector with adequate representation of non-governmental organisations working for the cause of SCs and STs,” he said.
The minister further suggested that annual workshop of Collectors and Superintendents of Police on implementation of PCRA 1955 and PAA 1989 should be organised and the state’s Home and Social Welfare Secretaries and Directors General of Police must interact with the participants on the whole range of issues/problems faced by them in their spheres of activities. “Based on this feedback, the state government can take necessary corrective steps expeditiously to improve the administration of these laws,” he said.
“In addition, the action taken in this regard should be reviewed by the state government and a report indicating the present status must be sent to the Union Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment within a month,” he said.
When asked what advice he would give to the state government on the continuous killings of innocent tribal in naxal violence, the minister evaded a direct response and said it was a separate issue and cannot be linked to the PCRA 1955 and PAA 1989.
Asked to name the districts in Chhattisgarh having high atrocity cases, Wasnik said the state government did not provide district-wise reports in the review meeting.
When pointed out towards the state government’s allegations that the Centre did not send adequate fund to it in the last fiscal for schemes pertaining to SCs and STs, Wasnik said the charges were wrong and the Union government had always provided sufficient financial support to all the states without being biased.
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