Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday said that the country can not grow without the development and improvement in the status of Schedule Castes, SCs and Schedule Tribes, STs. He said, SCs and STs are about the 25 per cent of total population and the nation can not afford to leave behind this part of population.
Addressing the States' Home Ministers' Conference on effective implementation of Prevention of Atrocities against SC- ST Act in New Delhi, Mr. Chidambaram expressed concern over the non-access of Dalits to the Police Stations and termed it as the changing forms of untouchability.
The Union Home Minister said that much more can be done to prevent atrocities against SCs and STs by the local administration. He said that if District Magistrate is determined, a lot of improvement can be brought in the status of Dalits. Mr Chidambaram said, the Home Ministry keeps issuing advisories to sensitise state governments against atrocities on SCs and STs and keep holding review meetings with the states but laws and advisories are not enough to tackle the issue and more has to be done raise the economic and social status of the SC/ST population
Earlier, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs V Kishore Chandra Deo said that new challenges have come up and there is lot of unrest in tribals due to issue of land. He said their homes and livelihood must be protected. The Minister asked the state government to ensure that the SC/ST welfare programmes reach the actual needy.
Expressing anguish over the atrocities against SCs and STs, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Mukul Wasnik said, the conviction rate on cases of atrocities on SCs and STs in India was between 3 to 8 per cent while pendency of such cases in court was 80 to 90 per cent. He favoured joint action with states to ensure justice to the victims. Mr. Wasnik said, Chief Ministers should meet twice a year to review the implementation of the Act as it will send clear message to the administration to provide enough protection to SCs and STs against atrocities.
