Amid the increase in cases of atrocities against scheduled caste in the state, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal on Thursday directed the Police Department to promptly register cases of atrocities, if any, committed against members belonging to scheduled castes.
In case of any laxity on the part of Police, the victim or the aggrieved person should immediately contact the Deputy Commissioner concerned, said the CM while presiding over a meeting of State level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee formed under Rule 16 of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rule, 1995. He said that such cases should be given top priority as these call for immediate action.
The Chief Minister also announced to increase the legal assistance being given to the members belonging the Scheduled Castes for defending cases against ejectment from land and protection against exploitation by landlords from Rs 5,500 to Rs 11,000.
During the meeting, Minister of State for Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Krishan Kumar Bedi said that State Government is ensuring the effective implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Meetings of state level vigilance and monitoring committee and district level vigilance and monitoring committees are being held regularly in the state, said he. The Chief Minister was apprized that financial assistance is provided to the members belonging to Scheduled Castes who become victims of atrocities under the SCs/STs Act. As many as 74 persons have been assisted so far with financial assistance of Rs 60.84 lakh in current year.
Similarly, under Mukhyamantri Samajik Samrasta Antarjatiya Vivah Shagun Yojna, financial assistance of Rs1.01 lakh is being provided. Under this scheme, 112 beneficiaries have been assisted with financial assistance of Rs56.23 lakh upto June 30 during 2016-17.