Union Minister for Social Justice Mukul Wasnik on Wednesday said that the Andhra Pradesh has been gaining notoriety for registration of large number of atrocity cases against Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people and now it occupies the third position in the country.
Talking to media persons at Jubilee hall after emerging out of parliamentary standing committee meeting on the implementation of OPCP on PCR-POA Acts, Mukul Wasnik said that Rajasthan has occupied the first position with 6,298 cases of violence against SC/STs, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 6,272 and Andhra Pradesh stands thirds with 5,074 case. He said that 38,449 atrocity cases were registered across the country in 2010.
Expressing serious concern over the atrocities and violence against SCs and STs, he appealed to all State Governments to establish special courts to deal with such cases and take steps to preventing their recurrence. Stating that Centre has sent a note to all State Governments to amend the SC/ST Act 1989, he said the government would change the Act once recommendations from the state governments were received in this regard.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has assured the Union minister that the government would initiate serious action against perpetrators of violence on SC/STs. Stating that 65 perpetrators of violence have arrested in Laxminagar incident, he said that the police was yet to trace 11 accused. He said that state government would release compensation for those victims and ensure employment to one member of their family.
Kiran Kumar Reddy informed the parliamentary standing committee that the government was taking all steps for the welfare of SC/STs and their upliftment.
Union Minister of State for Social Justice B Nipolicen, Home minister Sabitha Indra Reddy, Rural development minister D Manikya Varaprasad, Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi, District Collectors and Superintendents of Police and other senior officials participated in the meeting.
—INn