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Steps Taken To Prevent Atrocities On Tribal Community

Question. What are the various corrective steps taken by Government to prevent atrocities on the tribal community?

(Answered by: Bishweswar Tudu (Minister of State for Tribal Affairs) on 22nd March 2023)

Ans. An Act of the Parliament namely the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) {PoA} Act, 1989 was enacted to prevent atrocities against members of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) which has been amended in 2015 to make it more effective.

  • The amended act includes new offences, expanded scope of presumptions, institutional strengthening, which inter-alia includes establishment of Exclusive Special Courtsand specification of Exclusive Special Public Prosecutors to exclusively try the offences under the PoA Act to enable expeditious disposal of cases, power of Special Courts and Exclusive Special Courts to take direct cognizance of offences and as far as possible, completion of trial within two months from the date of filing of the charge sheet, establishing rights of victims and witnesses, and strengthening preventive measures.
  • This Act also provides relief / compensation to the victims and also prescribes action to be taken by the law implementing agencies in conjunction with IPC in the country.
  • Police and Public Order are State Subject under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.
  • The State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations are primarily responsible for prevention, detection, registration, investigation and prosecution of crimes within their jurisdiction including crimes against members of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), as also for implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act,1955 and the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) {PoA} Act,1989.
  • The Government has been reviewing with the law implementing agencies of the State Government for ensuring prompt registration of atrocities, speedy investigation of the offences and timely dispensing of cases by the Courts.
  • Further, Government of India has issued advisories to the State Governments/UT Administrations from time to time for effective implementation of the PoA Act and Rules in letter and spirit.