'SCs dependent on perpetrators of crime for basic amenities'

New Delhi, Sep 24 (UNI) Scheduled Castes very often buckle before perpetrators of atrocities inflicted on them simply because of lack of such a basic thing as potable water in their locality.

The absence of basic amenities in their area makes the victims dependent on the very people they want to fight against.

These facts were highlighted at a meeting of the Monitoring Committee set up to review cases under the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1959.

Development of infrastructure and provision of civic amenities in the area inhabited by SCs and STs were spelt out as the prerequisite to check crime against these vulnerable sections.

One thing more that forces the victims for a compromise is the delay in the disposal of cases of atrocities. Since both culprits and the victims have to live in the same village, prolongation of the cases breaks their spirit, as it becomes difficluit to live in animosity with those more powerful than them.

Moreover, even when the cases are decided, the inadequacy of sentence makes the culprits emboldened to repeat the crime.

An analyses carried out in West Bengal showed that sentences were very mild for gravity of the crime committed.

The state of Scheduled Castes in Karnataka came in for special mention.

The rate conviction was very low in the state, and the full compensation hardly ever reached the hands of the victims. If, the amount of relief sanctioned is Rs one lakh, hardly Rs 10,000 goes to the victims and that too after passage of a long period.

Their lands are grabbed by mafias, and they are not able to resist because there is no one to tell , even form the government, about their rights, with state-level Scheduled Caste Commission almost defunct.

Most of the land grabbing cases are decided in favour of the influential and the rich with the revenue officers blatantly siding with them.

The alienation from the land was leading to great economic and social consequences for these clsses. Deprived of their lands, the SCs were falling easy prey to naxalites, and today they constitute most of their ranks, it was stressed.

Exploitation of SC employees in public sector undertaking was also highlighted in the meeting. Even manager-level people were forced to take VRS, a Member of the Committee said and called for an inquiry into such cases and counselling for SC employees.

It was also pointed out that the data base about the impact of schemes for SCs and STs was very week, and the government was dependent only on secondary date, which hindered any accurate assessment.

The need to collect primary data was deeply stressed by members.

One of the Members called for setting up fast Track courts to try cases of atrocities. Demand was also made for filling up vacancies in courts for speedy disposal of justice.

Reservations were expressed over the rports of decline in the crime against SCs and STs mainly on the ground that in substantial number of cases, the victims' complaints are not registered by police and they are shooed away from police stations.

UNI NAZ RN1106