Lok Sabha Question No. 1076 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Untouchability
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: KIRRON KHER, SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1076 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2018

## UNTOUCHABILITY

## 1076. SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER: SHRI SADASHIV LOKHANDE:

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

- (a) the reasons for untouchability rates being as high as 66% in rural Rajasthan and 64% in rural Uttar Pradesh as per survey conducted by Social Attitude Research, India (SARD);
- (b) whether the Government monitors untouchability in different parts of the country and if the details thereof; SO,
- c) whether there is any mechanism to measure the rise or fall in untouchability in any region and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of sensitisation programmes implemented for Government officials and similar programmes for citizens, against untouchability; and
- (e) the effective steps taken by the Government to protect the dalits from untouchability in the country? being

## 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:

(b) to (e): 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 theScheduled Castes   and  the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities){PoA} 1989, was enacted to prevent atrocities against members of Scheduled Castes(SCs) and Scheduled Tribes(STs) Act;

With an objective to deliver members of SCs and STs a greater justice, the PoA Act has been amended by the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities)

The   amendments broadly relate to addition of several new offences besides rephrasing and expansion of some of earlier offences; establishment of Exclusive Special  Courts and  specification of Exclusive   Special Public Prosecutors to exclusively try the offences under the PoA Act to enable expeditious disposal power of  Special Courts and Exclusive Special Courts to take direct cognizance of offence, and addition of chapter on the Rights of Victims and Witnesses The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995 made by the Central Government in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 23 of the PoA Act have also been amended by the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Rules, 2016 and enforced with effect from 14.04.2016. The amendments broadly relate to provisions of relief amount for 47 offences( as against 22 to amendment) of atrocities, rationalization of the phasing of payment of relief amount; enhancement of  relief amount between Rs. 85,000/Rs. 8,25,000/-(as Rs. 75,000/- to Rs.7,50,000/to amendment) , depending upon the nature of the offence, payment of admissible relief within seven completion of investigation and of charge sheet within sixty days to enable timely commencement of prosecution. prior against prior days; filing

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

| Year   | Number of cases registered under the   | Number of cases registered under the   |
|--------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| Year   | PCR Act                                | PoA Act                                |
| 2014   | 102                                    | 47,124                                 |
| 2015   | 107                                    |                                        |
| 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 besides being addressed to do so with emphasis on training and sensitization of police officers, other concerned officers  and awareness generation. they Acts;

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 Rules. A Committee under the Chairpersonship of Union Minster for Social Justice and Empowerment from time to time also reviews implementation status of the Acts in States and Union Territories and its last meeting was held on 30.01.2018. two

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