Question : Crime against SCs-STs

(a) whether the Government is aware that crime rates against Dalits and Adivasis population in Madhya Pradesh is the highest in comparison to other States across the country;

(b) if so, the details of crime against Dalits and Adivasis reported in Madhya Pradesh during the last three years and the action taken by the Government/State Government in this regard;

(c) whether the Union Government is also aware that crimes against women including assault, rape and sexual harassment have also increased in Madhya Pradesh in the past few years; and

(d) if so, the role played by the Union Government in checking such crimes against women, SCs/STs and adivasis?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) & (b): The crime rate across the States varies from year to year. As per the latest available information published by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), crime rate and cases registered under total crime/atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) during 2014 to 2016 in Madhya Pradesh are as below:-
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Year Crime rate in Madhya Pradesh under crime against Cases registered in Madhya Pradesh under crime against
Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes
2014 29.0 10.3 3294 1577
2015 31.3 8.9 3546 1358
2016 43.4 11.9 4922 1823

The Govt. of Madhya Pradesh has stated that for combating crimes against Dalits and Adivasis, Special Police Stations have been established in 51 districts out of 52 districts of the State. Similarly 43 Exclusive Special Courts have been established and 7 Session Courts have been specified as Special Courts by the State Government.
(c) & (d): The number of cases registered in the State of Madhya Pradesh under Rape, Assault on Women with intent to Outrage her Modesty (Sec. 354 IPC) and Sexual Harassment (Sec. 354A IPC) during 2014-2016 are as below:
Year Cases registered in the State of Madhya Pradesh under
Rape Assault on Women with intent to Outrage her Modesty (Sec. 354 IPC) Sexual Harassment (Sec. 354A IPC)
2014 5076 9609 3163
2015 4391 8049 2559
2016 4882 8717 3128
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The data shows a mixed trend.
Further, ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibilities to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens rest primarily with the respective State Governments. The State Governments are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws. However, the Government is committed to ensure protection of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (PoA Act) has been amended in 2015 to make it more effective. The amendments include new offences, expanded scope of presumptions, institutional strengthening, which inter-alia includes establishment of Exclusive Special Courts and specification of Exclusive Special Public Prosecutors to exclusively try the offences under the PoA Act to enable expeditious disposal of cases, power of Special Courts and Exclusive Special Courts to take direct cognizance of offence and as far as possible, completion of trial within two months from the date of filing of the charge sheet, establishing rights of victims and witnesses, and strengthening preventive measures. Further, Section 18 Of the Act, the PoA Act was amended by the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2018 (No. 27 of 2018) and enforced on 20.08.2018, and now conduct of a preliminary enquiry before
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registration of an FIR, or to seek approval of any authority prior to arrest of an accused, is no longer required. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an advisory dated 26.09.2018 requesting all States/UTs for the implementation of these provisions in letter and spirit.
Several measures have been taken for enhancing the safety of women and children. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018, provides for enhanced punishment for crimes such as rape including provision of death penalty for the offence of rape on women below 12 years; completion of investigation, filing of charge sheet and trial in rape cases in 2 months and appeals against conviction or acquittal to be disposed of within 6 months. The other steps taken in this regard include modernization and capacity building of forensic labs for faciliting timely investigation, development of a National Database on Sexual Offenders to facilitate investigation and tracking of Sexual Offenders across the country, a project for developing an Emergency Response Support System based on a Pan-India 24x7 Helpline Number 112 and a scheme for setting up One Stop Centre in every district across the country.

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