The Lok Sabha today passed Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill. The bill was passed by a voice vote while major opposition parties were not present in the house. Earlier, replying to the debate on the bill, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot assured the members that the provisions of the bill will rationalise and strengthen the present law besides brining change in the mindset of the people. He said steps have been taken to prevent atrocities on SCs and STs during the past one year including brining a law banning manual scavenging. The Minister also informed that the government has initiated measures to fill up the vacant posts reserved for SCs and STs and a committee has been set up to look into modalities for launching a special drive in this regard. <br/><br/>The Bill was originally introduced on 16th July last year. Our Correspondent says the proposed law amends the categories of offences against SC and STs and adds new categories and facilitate setting up special courts to trail such offences. Under the proposed law, forcing SC and STs to vote or not to vote a particular candidate, wrongful occupation of land belonged to SC STs, assaulting SC ST women including dedicating as Devadasi to a temple and identifies new offences such as garlanding with foot ware.

The Lok Sabha today passed Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill. The bill was passed by a voice vote while major opposition parties were not present in the house. Earlier, replying to the debate on the bill, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot assured the members that the provisions of the bill will rationalise and strengthen the present law besides brining change in the mindset of the people. He said steps have been taken to prevent atrocities on SCs and STs during the past one year including brining a law banning manual scavenging. The Minister also informed that the government has initiated measures to fill up the vacant posts reserved for SCs and STs and a committee has been set up to look into modalities for launching a special drive in this regard. <br/><br/>The Bill was originally introduced on 16th July last year. Our Correspondent says the proposed law amends the categories of offences against SC and STs and adds new categories and facilitate setting up special courts to trail such offences. Under the proposed law, forcing SC and STs to vote or not to vote a particular candidate, wrongful occupation of land belonged to SC STs, assaulting SC ST women including dedicating as Devadasi to a temple and identifies new offences such as garlanding with foot ware.