To address the escalating atrocities against SC/ST communities in Delhi, Shri Raaj Kumar Anand, the Minister for SC/ST Welfare, convened a comprehensive review meeting on Tuesday. The meeting brought together all District Magistrates of Delhi, where Shri Raaj Kumar Anand, along with concerned officials, engaged in an in-depth discussion on the effective implementation of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989 in the region. Seeking reports from district authorities, Shri Anand assessed the current situation along with the DM, SDM, Delhi Police, the Law Department, and senior officials from various departments involved in the enforcement of the SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act.
During the meeting, the issue of escalating atrocities against Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribe citizens in Delhi was brought to the forefront. Shri Raaj Kumar Anand emphasised the role of the Delhi government in providing legal aid to victims from these communities. The primary objective was to ensure prompt justice for the victims and prevent future crimes. Discussions also revolved around improving the disbursement system for government aid to effectively reach the victims. Considering the rising inflation and urgent need, special attention was given to exploring possibilities of increasing the aid amount.
Shri Anand also expressed grave concern over the declining conviction rate under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989. He emphasised the crucial need to apprehend and prosecute the culprits responsible for crimes against SC/ST communities, as this would contribute to reducing the overall crime rate and enable SC/ST individuals to live a life of dignity. Shri Anand instructed all the officers present to promptly file a complaint in the event of any atrocity against SC/ST occurring in their respective districts. Furthermore, he directed the officials to ensure the immediate provision of a lawyer by the Delhi government for any SC/ST woman who becomes a victim of sexual assault in order to ensure that the victim receives timely justice.
Shri Anand engaged in a detailed discussion with all the officers present during the meeting, emphasising the urgent need for establishing an “Atrocities Board” in every district to address the crimes committed against SC/ST individuals. The proposed Board would ideally comprise one SC/ST member from each constituency. This proactive measure holds significant potential in preventing atrocities against SC/ST communities throughout Delhi’s districts and ensuring the timely resolution of their grievances.
During the meeting, the matter of compensation to be provided to the victims or their families under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989, was also addressed. Shri Anand suggested that a thorough examination of the subject should be conducted to reassess the compensation currently offered, taking into account inflation and basic necessities. He further directed all the officers to explore possibilities of increasing the compensation amount in accordance with the SC/ST Act. A follow-up meeting regarding the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989, will be scheduled soon.
