Lok Sabha Question No. 1223 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-11
Subject: Discrimination against SCs and STs
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Hibi Eden

:

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1223 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2025

## DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SCs AND STs

## 1223. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

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

- (a) whether discrimination against Scheduled Castes (SCs)/Scheduled Tribes (STs) have increased in the country during the last ten years, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor particularly in Central Universities and Public Sector Units and IITs/ALIMS;
- (b) the details and the number of cases found in Central Universities, IITs/AlIMS and other Public Sector Units in this regard;
- (c) the details of measures taken by the Government to prevent such discrimination in Central Offices and Central Universities; and
- (d) the details of implementation and monitoring of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, in the workplace and academic institutions?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes statistical data on crimes in its publication 'Crime in India'. The published reports are available till the year 2022. As per the NCRB data, the details of number of cases registered under crime/atrocities against the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes during the year 2013 to 2022 is at Annexure I. Growing awareness, wider publicity and Capacity Building of Police Personnel are some of the reasons for more cases being registered under the SC/ST (PoA) Act, 1989. Data regarding discrimination against SCs/STs in the Educational Institutions and Public sector Units is not centrally maintained.
- (c) & (d): Iwo Acts were enacted i.e. the Protection of Civil Rights {PCR) Act, 1955, which prescribes punishment for enforcement of any disability arising from practice of "untouchability' and The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) {PoA} Act, 1989 to prevent the commission of offences of atrocities against

members of Scheduled Castes(SCs) and Scheduled Tribes(STs). For the effective implementation of these Acts, the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment is running Centrally Sponsored Scheme and National Helpline Against Atrocities (NHAA) to facilitate the members of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. The provisions of the SC/ST (PoA) Act, 1989 are applicable in Central Offices/Institutions also.

National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCS) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) provide safeguards against the exploitation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to promote and protect their social, educational, economic and cultural interests respectively.

In order to reduce the discrimination against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Central Universities, various steps have been taken which inter-alia include setting up of SC/ST students' cells, Equal Opportunity Cell, Student Grievance Cell, Student Grievance Redressal Committee, Liaison Officers, etc. in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) and issuance of regulations to safeguard the interest of students including SC/ST students. The All India Council of Technical Education has also framed strict norms to prohibit such incidents in the institutions, managed by it.

To ensure effective coordination to devise ways and means to curb offences related to untouchability and atrocities against the members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and to ensure the effective implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, a Committee has been constituted under the chairpersonship of the Hon'ble Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment. Further, at the state level, there is a three-tier monitoring mechanism as per the SC/ST (PoA) Rules 1995: the State Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee, chaired by the Chief Minister; the District Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees, chaired by the District Magistrate; and the Sub-Division Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees, chaired by the Sub Divisional Magistrate at the sub-division level.

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## Annexure I referred to in reply to part (a) to (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred question No. 1223 for answer on 11.02.2025

Cases registered under crime against Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes during the year 2013-2022

| Year   | Number of Cases registered                                             | Number of Cases registered   | Number of Cases registered   |
|--------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
|        | SC                                                                     | ST                           | Total                        |
| 2013   | 39408                                                                  | 6793                         |                              |
| 2014   | 40401                                                                  |                              |                              |
| 2015   | 38670                                                                  |                              |                              |
| 2016   | 40801                                                                  |                              |                              |
| 2017   | 43203                                                                  |                              |                              |
| 2018   | 42793                                                                  |                              |                              |
| 2019   | 45961                                                                  |                              |                              |
| 2020   | 50291                                                                  | 8272                         | 58563                        |
| 2021   | 50900                                                                  | 8802                         | 59702                        |
| 2022   | 57582 Source:- National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs | 10064                        | 67646                        |

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