Directions to curb atrocities against SCs

By Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 11

 Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today asked the concerned departments of the state to adopt zero tolerance in the cases of atrocities committed against the Scheduled Castes (SCs). He also directed for taking all necessary steps to prevent and curb atrocities on members of SCs.

        Mr Hooda was presiding over the State Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee here today. Finance Minister Mr H. S. Chattha, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mrs Geeta Bhukkal, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Mr Jaiveer Singh and Mr Ram Kishan Fouji, MLAs Shakuntala Khatak, Rajpal Bhukhri and Naresh Selwal, Chief Secretary Mr P.K. Chaudhery, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr Chhatar Singh and other senior officers of state government also participated in the meeting.

        Mr Hooda reviewed the implementation of the provisions of SCs and STs Act in the state and asked the officers to ensure that the provisions of the Act were followed in letter and spirit. It was informed in the meeting that district and state level meetings were being conducted regularly. The implementation of previous meeting's decisions was also reviewed.

        While reviewing the implementation of various schemes like legal aid, inter caste marriage, incentives to gram panchayat, organising debates and seminars and publicity of schemes, Chief Minister asked the officers to publicise the welfare and legal aid schemes being implemented in the state so that the people could get benefitted. Sixty-four persons were provided legal assistance in year 2012-13 and an amount of Rs 3.48 lakh was spent, 211 beneficiaries were provided Rs 105.5 lakh in year 2012-13 under the inter caste marriage scheme. Eighty-one gram panchayats were awarded Rs 40.5 lakh in the same year. Forty-eight seminars and debates were conducted during the year 2012-13.

        It was informed in the meeting that all necessary steps to prevent and curb atrocities on members of SCs were being taken. All police authorities have been directed to promptly register cases under the Act and take strict action against the accused so that it could work as a deterrent for others. Financial assistance is being provided to the members belonging to SCs, who become victims of atrocities under the SC / ST Act. In year 2011-12, an amount of Rs 56 lakh was provided to the 155 such victims and in the year 2012-13, an amount of Rs 193.27 lakh was provided to 212 persons. The prosecution cases pendency and conviction rate was also reviewed in the meeting.

        The Chief Minister also directed the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Department to frame a policy so that the SC atrocities victims from SCs could also be provided some financial assistance as is provided in cases of atrocities being committed by non SCs.