ADILABAD: Women in the district have been subjected to utmost discrimination in day-to-day life, going by the figures from the official report on the implementation of Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) and SC, ST Prevention of Atrocities (POA) Act, 1989, a revealing document which buttresses this contention.

According to the report, a total of 774 cases under this act have been registered in the district since the law came into force. Some 123 cases in which relief was provided have been quoted in some detail.

Of the 123 cases, women are direct victims in as many as 82 cases.

There are 63 cases of rape, which add up to over 50 per cent of the total number of cases lodged under the sections of the POA Act. The figure includes rape against minors.

High figure

For a district like Adilabad known for its peaceful inhabitants, the figure is definitely on the higher side.

Only 38 SC/ST men were victims of atrocities, while in five cases both women and men are involved as victims.

The nature of offences includes 15 murders, insults and injuries.

There are 21 cases under the POA Act that are pending for want of reports from the appropriate authorities.

Women are victims in 10 of the 21 cases.

One more glaring factor that emerges from the report is the crimes against SC women. Of the 123 victims, 75 are SCs while 48 are STs.

Few convictions

The investigation part leaves much to be desired, going by the report. Convictions and sentences were achieved only in 16 cases while many resulted in acquittals.

Paltry relief

In cases of atrocities against the SCs and STs, departments like the SC Corporation come to the victims' rescue by providing relief.

Besides the usual Rs. 5,000 or Rs. 10,000 immediate relief, hardly any effort is worth mentioning.

While one victim got a Government job, another was given a five-acre plot of land, while one more was given a house under the Indira Awas Yojana as other benefits.

There are only a few who got relief of over Rs. 1 lakh.

The Justice K. Punnaiah Commission on implementation of PR and SC, ST POA will be in Adilabad for a three-day visit on April 19, 20 and 21 and will consider these facts

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