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In the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Parliament, Rajya Sabha members Dr. L. Hanumanthaiah and Dr. Amee Yajnik asked the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry, about the details pertaining to the atrocities against people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The total number of atrocity cases against Dalits or people belonging to Scheduled Castes stands at 41,793, and 7,815 cases with respect to atrocities against Scheduled Tribe members in 2019. The Centre has not provided any data for the year 2020.
Uttar Pradesh has recorded the highest number (9,451) of cases pertaining to Dalit atrocities. On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh registered the highest number of cases (1,920) pertaining to atrocities against the Scheduled Tribes. Year-wise data of total number of cases is as follows:
Year | Total number of cases under the SC/ST (PoA) Act |
2015 | 44,839 |
2016 | 47,338 |
2017 | 50,094 |
2018 | 44,505 |
2019 | 49,608 |
But the conviction rate under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, is very low. The year 2019 saw 4,007 convictions for charges of atrocities against Dalits and only 742 convictions for charges of atrocities against Scheduled Tribe members. Uttar Pradesh, which has recorded the maximum incidents of crime against Dalits, has merely achieved the conviction of 1,619 people. Madhya Pradesh, however, has recorded the highest number of convictions of people booked for crimes against STs (414).
Bihar has recorded 6,637 cases under the SC/ST Act in 2019. But only 46 people have been convicted for such crimes. States like Rajasthan, Odisha, Punjab, Mizoram, Manipur have seen no convictions despite a high number of atrocity cases.
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Ramdas Athawale also provided information regarding monetary relief given to the victims of such prejudiced crimes. 73,322 victims have been provided with financial assistance in 2019, with Uttar Pradesh having the highest number of victims getting such relief (23,866). But, residents of Goa, Sikkim, Chandigarh and Assam have not received any compensation!
SabrangIndia had previously reported that on March 17, 2021, the then Minister of State (Home). G. Kishan Reddy, provided shocking data about the frequency of ghastly crimes against underprivileged women and children in India. In terms of registered rape cases against Scheduled Caste women under the Indian Penal Code, the year 2019 recorded 2,369 cases and 2018 recorded 2,067 cases.
Further, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, that deals with penalising perpetrators for sexual crimes against children, the year 2019 witnessed 1,117 cases and 2018 reported 869 cases against Dalit children. Providing more data on rape cases registered against Scheduled Tribe women and children for the last two years, 2019 saw 714 cases against women and 396 cases against children. In 2018, as many as 609 women registered rape complaints, whereas 399 cases were registered by minors.
The answer dated July 28, 2021 may be read here:
Related:
3,110 rape cases recorded against Dalits and ST women in 2019: Centre in RS
Uttar Pradesh records highest crimes against Dalits: NCRB