UP recorded maximum cases of atrocities against SC, ST persons

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New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of cases of atrocities against members of SC and ST communities in 2014, followed by Bihar and Rajasthan, government said on Thursday.

A total of 8,066 cases were registered under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Bihar (7,874 cases) and Rajasthan (6,734 cases), Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Vijay Sampla told Parliament.

Madhya Pradesh registered 3,294 such cases while Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha and Tamil Nadu recorded 2,104, 1,865, 1,657, 1,486 cases, respectively, as per the latest data of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, was replaced by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 which came into force in January 26.

The amended Act provides for stringent action against those committing atrocities against SC and ST communities or indulging in actions which are derogatory to their dignity, including social or economic boycott.

As the Act is implemented by states and union territories, therefore, with a view to ensuring its effective implementation, central assistance is provided to them mainly for strengthening of the enforcement and judicial machinery and encourage inter-caste marriages, the minister said.

The implementation status of the Act in various states and UTs is also reviewed by a committee headed by the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment.