Karnataka - Gulbarga   

Curb atrocities against Dalits, Centre urged

Special Correspondent

`Special Component Plan funds not utilised'

GULBARGA: Jogendra Kawade, president of the People's Republican Party, on Tuesday urged the Union Government to strengthen the Prevention of Atrocities (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Act by removing the lacunae in the Act to control the growing instances of atrocities on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Addressing a press conference here, Prof. Kawade said that the Act has many loopholes, which allow the perpetuators of atrocities to go scot-free.

Besides giving the Act more teeth and removing the anomalies, the Government should add provisions to punish police officials who fail to act on the complaints filed by the affected Dalits, he said.

According to the Act, police officials can only take action against the perpetuators if the offence takes place in a public place. He said that such provisions should be amended.

He dismissed the argument that the Act was being misused by Dalits to harass members of other castes.

Prof. Kawade said that the National Human Rights Commission's latest report has pointed out that the atrocities on Dalits are increasing.

Referring to the utilisation of the Special Component Plan (SCP) funds meant for the development and welfare of Dalits, he said that in almost all the States, the funds are not being utilised fully. There were a few instances where the funds were diverted for other works. He said that no State Government should divert the funds meant for the SCP. The funds, once allotted, should not be allowed to lapse and should be carried over to the next year.

Criticised

Prof. Kawade criticised the Maharashtra Government for displacing more than 90,000 slum dwellers in Mumbai by demolishing their dwellings. He said that this was in contrast to the promises made in the party manifesto. The Union Government also promised to protect the interests of slum dwellers in the Common Minimum Programme.

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