PM shocked over low conviction rate of cases under SC/ST Act

New Delhi, Sept 7 (PTI) Expressing shock over less than
30 per cent conviction rate for cases of atrocities against
Scheduled Caste (SC)s and Scheduled Tribes (ST)s, Prime
Minister of India Manmohan Singh on Monday asked state
governments to give more attention to the issue and said court
cases related to such matters should be "pursued on priority".

"Reports of atrocities against SCs, STs and senior
citizens continue to appear with disturbing regularity. I have
in fact written to the Chief Ministers of all states recently
to enforce the provisions of the SCs and STs (Prevention of
Atrocities) Act.

It is shocking that conviction rate for cases of
atrocities against SCs and STs is less than 30 per cent
against the average of 42 per cent for all cognisable offences
under Indian Penal Code (IPC). The state governments need to
give more attention to this issue," he said inaugurating a
conference of state ministers of welfare and social justice
here.

Singh told them to conduct meetings of state and district
level vigilance committees on a regular basis and said that
court cases should be pursued on priority.

Focussing on the need to change the general mindset
towards disadvantaged groups, the Prime Minister said such
people should be made equal partners in the developmental
processes.

"We propose to amend the Persons with Disabilities Act in
consultation with states so as to bring it in line with the UN
Convention (on Rights of Persons with Disabilities)," he said.

Referring to the drought like situation prevailing in
many parts of the country, Singh said, "the experience has
been that weaker sections tend to be the worst affected by
such natural calamities.

"We, therefore, need to step up monitoring and
implementation of welfare schemes like NREGA, Annapurna and
Old Age Pension Scheme, which target the weaker sections."

He said the government plans to take up a new scheme from
this year on a pilot basis namely, 'Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram
Yojana' for integrated development of 1,000 villages, each
having more than 50 per cent SC population.

The scheme aims at implementation of various development
projects in these villages, with an additional fund of Rs 10
lakh per village to meet those requirements that cannot be met
from existing schemes, he said, adding that if the pilot
scheme is successful, then it could be expanded.

On the mobility problems faced by disabled persons, the
Prime Minister said educational and healthcare institutions,
government offices and banks, should be made more accessible.

"Small steps like ramps... actually go a long way in
this direction," he said.

Singh called on the Ministry of Communications and IT to
promote development of user friendly software in all Indian
languages.

"Our websites need to be more user friendly for disabled
people and I am happy that the ministry for social justice has
made a beginning in this regard. The National Institute of
Design should be urged to encourage the design of everyday
appliances and instruments that cater to people with various
disabilities," he said. PTI ASI
SDE