The Citizen Awareness and Monitoring Wing alleged that no appropriate action has been taken thus far with no information provided on the atrocities that happened to the Scheduled community in Coimbatore and Nilgiris, in the last four years.
Coimbatore: The Citizen Awareness and Monitoring Wing briefed the media in Coimbatore stating that atrocities against the SC/ST groups have been on the rise and urged rhe Government to take necessary action.
They also shared varied information on the enforcement of the Prevention of Atrocities Act. Addressing a press conference, Anandan, District President of the organisation said, "In the last four years, the data on atrocities against Scheduled Castes in Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts is not fully available. The District SP's office and District Collectorate's reply indifferently for information sought through the Right to Information (RTI) Act". The officers there bluntly give an answer stating there are no relevant documents on the cases.
The District administration has no concern either. The Atrocities Against Scheduled Castes Act stated that a district awareness and monitoring meeting should be held at the district level once in a quarter under the chairmanship of the District Collector. The implementation of the Prevention of Atrocities Act should also be examined. But, such meetings do not take place."
"As per the provisions of the Prevention of Atrocities Act, essential commodities including food have to be arranged within 24 hours for victims of atrocities. Immediate relief for the damage within seven days , including cash, material shelter, pension within 15 days, house, drinking water and land within a month, Government job within three months, economic development within six months must be compulsorily provided.
However, there is no relative information neither at the District nor State level on the details of the socio-economic arrangements provided to the victims. Cases registered under the Prevention of Atrocities Act should be completed in the Court within 60 days from the date of filing of the chargesheet.
But various cases are pending, especially since 2021, with 21 cases on the shelf in Nilgiris. Similarly, such cases of the Prevention of Atrocities Act should be investigated only by officers above the level of DSP, but instead, Inspectors and Sub-inspectors are the investigators while the higher officials just place their signatures," alleged Anandan.
Anandan also stated that the various figures in the data were shocking and the compensation allotted to the victims of the Prevention of Atrocities Act had not fully reached them. "A sum of Rs.29.49 lakhs has been allocated for the victims in Coimbatore Corporation areas.
But only Rs.10.12 lakh has been disbursed. Similarly, Rs.50 lakhs has been allocated in suburban areas. Of this, only Rs.2.20 lakhs has been disbursed. Similarly, in the Nilgiris district, Rs.4.50 lakhs has been allocated, however only a lakh has been disbursed. A sum of Rs.34.56 crores has been allocated throughout Tamil Nadu but only Rs.50 lakhs has been disbursed as compensation to the eligible persons," he added.
Anandan pointed out that the POCSO cases against Scheduled Castes are also on the rise. "In 2021 alone, 1,332 cases were registered under the Scheduled Castes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act across Tamil Nadu. Out of these, 996 cases have been registered under various sections including 59 murder cases, 8 rape cases, 135 POCSO cases, 52 cases of attempt to murder through immolation and two cases of slander using a caste nam," he added. Stating that cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes like honour killing are on the rise in Tamil Nadu. Anandan demanded that the Tamil Nadu Government should pay special attention to the community.
"Separate courts should be set up in each district. Higher officials should directly handle the cases. The Tamil Nadu government should provide training to higher officials on these cases. Special attention should be given firsthand at the district level," reiterated Anandan.