Review of SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989

New Delhi, May 1, 2013 [PIB] --- The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) {PoA} Act, 1989, extends to the whole of India except Jammu and Kashmir, and responsibility for its implementation rests with State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. The States/Union Territories are provided due Central assistance under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, for effective implementation of the PoA Act. They are also addressed from time to time to, inter-alia, implement provisions of the Act in letter and spirit.  A Committee under the Chairpersonship of Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, constituted in 2006 also reviews implementation status of the PoA Act in various States/Union Territories.  The Committee has so far held twenty meetings wherein implementation of the PoA Act was reviewed in 24 States and 4 Union Territories. The continuing incidence of occurrence of offences of atrocities against members of SCs and STs leads to an impression that the deterrent effect of the PoA Act is not adequately felt by the accused. Occurrence of such incidents also highlights the need for more effective precautionary and preventive measures. Such aspects called for an assessment to consider amendments in the PoA Act.  Accordingly, this Ministry, after due consultation process with the concerned agencies, has commenced the process of amendments in the Act. This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri P. Balram Naik in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha yesterday.

Uttar Pradesh: Minor Dalit girl rape, locked up in jail

Bulandshahr, April 09, 2013 [Hindustan Times] --- A 10-year-old Dalit girl, who was allegedly raped, was put behind bars in an all women police station in Bulandshahr on Monday. The child spent several hours behind bars after her mother brought her to a women's police station to lodge a complaint against a local goon for allegedly raping her. She was rescued only after locals protested. Two women constables have been suspended and two sub inspectors including the station-in-charge have been sent to police lines after a TV journalist brought the matter into senior officials' notice, SSP Gulab Singh said. According to Singh, the minor from Meerpur village in Bulandshahr was found lying unconscious in a field by her parents on Sunday night where she had been dumped after being allegedly raped. An FIR was lodged with the police by victims' parents but shockingly the staff of the women's police station detained the victim in lock-up. The local goon accused of raping the minor is absconding, he added.