PM disconcerted by Dalit atrocities, urges CMs to tackle problem

Strings of atrocities committed against the Dalits in India have caught the attention of Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh who has expressed his concerns, assuring the downtrodden community that all measures would be taken to safeguard their rights.

Dr. Singh was upset over the Dalit killings in Khairlanji, Maharashtra, and the recent outbreak of violence in Mumbai and Kanpur following desecration of a statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, in Uttar Pradesh.

According to government officials, the Prime Minister rebuked the police authorities for failing to quickly respond to crisis situations.

Expressing that the police machinery in Maharashtra had virtually collapsed, Dr. Singh called for an inter–state council meeting of the Chief Ministers of all states to discuss the issue of Dalit atrocities on December 9.

In an agenda sent to all the state Chief Ministers in the 10th inter–state council meeting, the Prime Minister expressed unhappiness over the crime against Dalits and the administration's "indifference" to them.

Referring to the "deep malaise involving atrocities committed on the most underprivileged segments" of the Indian society, Dr. Singh told the Chief Ministers that the "scourge...demands the formulation and articulation of our Nation's collective will and a determined effort to fight it and root it out of our society without any loss of further time."

"In the recent past, we have witnessed disturbing incidents and reports of atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SCs and STs) in some places. There are also shocking reports at times of apathy and a lack of sensitivity in handling the aftermath of such incidents," he said, adding, "The figures of atrocities should be a matter of grave national concern for all of us. A disconcerting feature is that some states account for a majority of the incidents of such atrocities."

According to the Prime Minister, "the time is ripe for a serious introspection and a comprehensive review of our existing approaches, existing strategies and existing measures which are in place so that we are effective in controlling such incidents and are able to generate a greater sense of security and hope among our weaker sections."

"Today, as our country experiences rapid economic growth, it becomes all the more necessary that we ensure that our growth is truly inclusive. Otherwise, the growth in itself is of no value," Dr. Singh noted. "The weaker sections, particularly those who have undergone historic seclusion, must be brought within the fold and allowed to participate and contribute effectively to processes of development. Incidents of atrocities immediately negate any positive results of growth. Justice for the weakest has to have the highest priority even more than the productivity indices and it is here that each one of us has a role to play. It should be our endeavour to ensure that the members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are equal stakeholders in processes of economic and social development and that they are able to deal with atrocities and the curbing of their civil, social, economic and political rights. We need a development paradigm where we are able to guarantee to hitherto suppressed sections the freedoms of an open society and an inclusive democracy which we all cherish."

"Continuing atrocities against the weaker sections are a matter of national disgrace in a civilized society. Our Constitution has provisions for protecting their interests and prohibiting discrimination," the Prime Minister said, adding that several statutes like the Untouchability (Offences) Act (subsequently renamed as the Protection of Civil Rights Act) and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (or POA Act), 1989 were in place to provide "adequate deterrence in preventing atrocities."

However, "the implementation of this act and its provisions has not been as effective as it could have been," the Prime Minister noted. "Cases continue to be registered under weaker provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) rather than the stronger provisions of the POA Act. More often than not, the distinction between regular crimes and those covered by the POA Act has not percolated down."

"Both the afflicted and those in charge of implementing this Act need therefore to be sensitized on these differences. States should consider setting up special cells, preferably manned by senior officers belonging to the SC/ST community, to monitor and enforce the implementation of the POA Act. Atrocity prone districts too could have such cells," he said.

Though a Committee of Ministers on Dalit Affairs was formed to monitor and implement programmes for the welfare and development of Scheduled Castes and even a high level Central Committee under the Chairpersonship of Social Justice and Empowerment Minister was constituted in March 2006 for effective coordination to curb offences of untouchability and atrocities, yet, "legislations alone are not sufficient," Dr. Singh stated.

"In dealing with social violence there must be compassion for the victim and a firm resolve to deal with the perpetrator of these crimes. What is needed is the political will to eliminate atrocities; the will to enforce the law; the will to ensure easy access to the police and the justice system to vulnerable sections; the will to provide relief and succor to all those who are affected by atrocities; the will to ensure that all sections of society feel that they are part of our polity and society and are equal partners in processes of growth and development; the will, in the final analysis, to ensure that every section of society has a sense of belonging," he said.

"It is my earnest request to all the Chief Ministers...to address themselves to this major task of nation building which rests on the shoulders of each one of them. Let us together build a nation which is great and also inclusive," he concluded.

The Prime Minister also sought information about the implementation of various welfare schemes for the Dalits and the tribals. The state governments would be asked to report on the action taken to check atrocities against the Dalits, one government official said.

A deluge of complaints is pending with the National Commission for Schedule Castes and Tribes because of the government's failure to enforce the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Many states are yet to appoint vigilance and monitoring committees that the law stipulates.