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Centre reviews execution of law

Facing flak following the suicide by dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, the Centre on Wednesday reviewed the implementation of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment

Facing flak following the suicide by dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, the Centre on Wednesday reviewed the implementation of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015.

The meeting, chaired by social justice and empowerment minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot, deliberated on ways to ensure proper implementation of the law. The ministry is mulling framing rules for implementation of the law which came into force from January 26. “Despite the deterrent provisions made in the PoA Act, continuing atrocities against the members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes had been a cause of concern. Also there is a rise in such cases,” said Mr Gehlot, adding, “There were several crimes which did not fit into the provisions of the earlier Act following which we amended the Act to deliver greater justice to the people belonging to such sections.” He elaborated that the government is in the process of framing rules for the implementation of the Act. “The objective of the meeting is to take suggestions from the states regarding the same and seek details of action taken against cases of crime against the SC and ST members. The aim is to ensure the Act was being implemented in true letter and spirit.”

The new law mandates a greater responsibility on state governments and Union Territory administrations to augment infrastructure and human resources implementation.

The Committee is likely to deliberate on steps to be taken by concerned states and UTs to effectively implement provisions. The new law provides for stringent action against those compelling any member of SC or ST communities to carry human or animal carcasses or do manual scavenging.

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