As per the report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs, the atrocity cases registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 in the year 2018, 2019 and 2020* are as under:-
|
Year
|
Cases registered
|
|
2018
|
49064
|
|
2019
|
53515
|
|
2020
|
58538
|
(* The latest published data pertains to the year 2020)
Since 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule (List-II) to the Constitution of India, the responsibility of maintaining Law and Order, Protection of life and property of the citizens including SCs/STs rests with the respective State Governments/Union Territory Administrations and the States are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provision of Law.
However, Government of India issues advisories to the State Governments/UT Administrations from time to time for effective implementation of the PoA Act and Rules made thereunder.
Further, National Helpline against Atrocities (NHAA) on the members of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes has been also launched by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment. The objective of the helpline is to generate awareness about the provisions of the Law that are aimed at ending discrimination and provide protection. The NHAA is available on toll-free number ‘14566’ across the country.
This information was given by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athawale in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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MG/RNM/DP/RK