Question : CRIME AGAINST DALIT WOMEN

(a) whether the crimes atrocities against dalit women and girls are on the rise in the country;

(b) if so, the total number of such cases reported and the action taken against the accused alongwith the financial assistance provided to the victims during each of the last three years and the current year, Statewise and crime-wise;

(c) the total number of such cases solved/unsolved and the action taken to solve all the cases during the said period, State-wise; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to stop such cases in future?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (c): AS per information provided by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total number of 29825, 33367 and 33426 cases under different heads of atrocities against Scheduled Castes were reported in the country during 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively. Gender wise cases of atrocities are not maintained by NCRB except rape cases. A total of 1349, 1457 and 1346 cases of rape against dalit women were reported during 2007-2009 in the country. The State/UT wise details of number of cases reported, charge-sheeted and convicted; number of persons arrested, chargesheeted and convicted with regard to crime of rape is at Annexure-I. As per information provided by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MSJE), the norms for amount of relief as well as phasing of its payment, is available in Schedule to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995. The statement as provided by MSJE (Annexure -II) indicates the expenditure reportedly incurred by the State Government/UT Administration, towards relief to victims of atrocity under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, during the year 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively.

(d): A comprehensive Advisory was issued to all the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations on 01.04.2010 by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The advisory has enumerated various steps, viz; vigorous and conscientious enforcement of the statutory provisions and the existing legislations; sensitizing the law enforcement machinery towards crimes against SC/STs by way of well-structured training programmes, conferences and seminars etc.; improving general awareness about legislations on crimes against SCs/STs; no delay in the registration of FIR in cases of crimes against SCs/STs; identification of atrocity-prone areas for taking preventive measures; and adequate measures for the economic and social rehabilitation of the victims of atrocities etc.

As per the seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India “Police” and “Public Order” are State subjects and, as such the primary responsibility of prevention, detection, registration, investigation and prosecution of crime, including crime against SCs and STs, lies with the State Government/Union Territory Administrations. However, Government of India is committed to prevent and combat crimes against vulnerable sections of the society, including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SCs and STs).