Lok Sabha Question No. 2335 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-10
Subject: Crimes Against SCs and STs
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2335

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  DECEMBER, 2024/ AGRAHAYANA 19, 1946 (SAKA)

CRIMES AGAINST SCS AND STS

2335.     SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  the  number  of  cases  of  crimes  reported  against  Scheduled  Castes (SCs)  and  Scheduled  Tribes  (STs)  in  the  country  during  the  last  three years;

(b)  the  specific  actions taken by the Government to prevent crimes and atrocities against SCs and STs;

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  initiated  any  awareness  campaigns  to reduce such violence and crimes and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the assistance provided by the Government to victims of such crimes, including compensation and rehabilitation measures?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR)

(a) : National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles statistical data on crimes as reported to it by the States/UTs and publishes the same in its annual publication 'Crime in India'. The latest published report pertains to the year 2022. The details of number of cases registered under crime against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) during years 2020-2022 across the country are given below:-

|   Scheduled Castes ( 2020-2022 ) |   Scheduled Tribes ( 2020-2022 ) |
|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|                           158773 |                            27138 |

(b) to (d): 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule  to  the  Constitution  of  India.  The  responsibility  of  maintaining law  and  order,  protection  of  life  and  property  of  the  citizens  including Scheduled  Castes  (SCs)  &  Scheduled  Tribes  (STs),  rehabilitation  and payment  of  compensation  to  victims  rests  with  the  respective  State Governments/UT Administrations,  who  are  competent  to  deal  with  such offences under the extant provisions of laws. However, the Government of India is committed to ensure protection of members of Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes throughout the country and supports & supplements the efforts of the State Governments to effectively tackle crime against SCs and STs.  Major steps taken by the Government of India in this regard are as follows :-

To make the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities)  Act,  1989  more  effective  and  to  provide  greater  justice  and enhanced redressal to injustice suffered by the atrocity victims, this Act has  been  amended  in  the  year  2015.  The  amendment  includes  new offences,  expanded  scope  of  presumptions,  institutional  strengthening, which inter-alia includes establishment of Exclusive Special Courts and

specification  of  Exclusive  Special  Public  Prosecutors  to  exclusively  try offences  under  the  POA  Act  to  enable  expeditious  disposal  of  cases, power  of  Special  Courts  and  Exclusive  Special  Courts  to  take  direct cognizance of offences. Further, Section 18 of the POA Act was amended through  the  Scheduled  Castes  and  the  Scheduled  Tribes  (Prevention  of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2018 and enforced with effect from 20.08.2018. Conduct of a preliminary enquiry before registration of an FIR or  to  seek  approval  of  any  authority  prior  to  arrest  of  an  accused  is  no longer required.

Further,  a  National  Helpline  against  Atrocities  (NHAA),  having  toll free  number  14566  has  been  established  to  facilitate  the  members  of Scheduled  Castes  and  Scheduled  Tribes  with  the  objective  of  their grievance redressal and to generate awareness about the provisions and processes under the Law. A collaboration has also been made with the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), India for awareness generation of these Acts, Rules and centrally sponsored scheme in force for implementation of these Acts.

In  addition,  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  been  advising  the  State Governments/  UT  Administrations  from  time  to  time  to  give  focused attention to effective administration of the criminal justice system with

emphasis on prevention and control of crimes against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and to implement the provisions of the POA Act and Rules in letter and spirit. These advisories are available at the website of this Ministry www.mha.gov.in.

Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  also  advised  the  States  and  UTs  to identify the Atrocity-prone areas for taking preventive measures to save life and property of the members of the SC and ST communities and post adequate  number  of  police personnel, fully equipped  with policing infrastructure in the Police Stations in such vulnerable areas.

Further, Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) conducts  training,  courses  and  webinars  from  time  to  time  for  police personnel  sensitizing  them  for  effective  implementation  of  Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) (POA) Act, 1989.

Further, the Department  of Social  Justice  and  Empowerment, Ministry  of  Social  Justice  &  Empowerment  runs  a  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme  for  the  effective  implementation  of  Protection  of  Civil  Rights (PCR) Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST)  (Prevention  of  Atrocities)  {POA}  Act  1989,  under  which  Central Assistance is provided to the State Governments and Union Territory

Administrations for effective implementation of these Acts, which includes : (i)  Functioning  and  strengthening  of  the  Scheduled  Castes  and (iv) Incentive for Inter-Caste Marriages, where one of the spouses is

Scheduled Tribes Protection cell and Special Police Stations. (ii) Setting up and functioning of exclusive Special Courts. (iii) Relief and Rehabilitation of atrocity victims. a member of a Scheduled Caste. (v) Awareness generation.

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