Lok Sabha Question No. 5211 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Untouchability
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: KIRRON KHER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5211 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2018

## UNTOUCHABILITY

## 5211. SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the reasons for untouchability rates as high as 66% in rural Rajasthan and 64% in rural Uttar Pradesh (UP), as per a survey conducted by Social Attitude Research India (SARI); being
- details and the outcome thereof;
- whether there is any mechanism to measure the rise or fall in untouchability in any and if so, the details thereof; and region
- (d) the details of sensitisation programmes implemented for Government officials and similar programmes for citizens, against untouchability?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

(a): The said survey conducted by Social Attitude Research India   (SARI) was neither commissioned by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment nor its report has been received by the Ministry. State Governments of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have also apprised that the report and data of the said survey has not been received by them. As such its findings cannot be commented upon or substantiated:

- (6) to (d): Article 17 of' the Constitution of India abolished untouchability forbade its practice and made enforcement of any disability arising out of *untouchability a punishable offence in accordance with law. An Act of Parliament namely the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act; 1955 prescribes punishment for enforcement of any disability arising from the practice of *untouchability. Another Act of Parliament namely the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of   Atrocities) {PoA} Act; 1989, was enacted to   prevent atrocities against members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The variation in incidence of offences registered under the PCR Act and the PoA Act is reflected in the annual statistics on the two provided by the National Crime Records Bureau; Ministry of Home Affairs. The table aS under mentions number of cases registered under the two Acts 2014,2015 and 2016: Acts; during

| Year   | Number of cases registered under the   | Number of cases registered under the   |
|--------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
|        | PCR Act                                | PoA Act                                |
| 2014   | 102                                    | 47,124                                 |
| 2015   | 107                                    | 44,839                                 |
| 2016   | 31                                     | 47,338                                 |

Provisions of the PCR Act and the PoA Act and the Rules there   under are implemented  by the State Governments/Union   Territory Administrations and are provided Central assistance towards effective implementation of the two Acts, besides addressed to do SO with emphasis on training and sensitization of officers,  other concerned officers and awareness generation: they being police

Implementation aspect of the PCR Act and the PoA Act is periodically reviewed in the meetings of the State and District level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees set up as per Rule 16 and Rule 17 of the PoA A Committee under the Chairpersonship of Union   Minster for Social Justice   and   Empowerment   from time to time also reviews implementation status of the two Acts in States and Union Territories and its last meeting was held on 30.01.2018.