02.08.24.UT News.Untouchables News.Chennai 600026.India.by Team chennai.
Buddhists & How Ethics Come In To Play.
Essentially, according to Buddhist teachings, the ethical and moral principles are governed by examining whether a certain action, whether connected to body or speech is likely to be harmful to one's self or to others and thereby avoiding any actions which are likely to be harmful. In Buddhism, there is much talk of a skilled mind. A mind that is skilful avoids actions that are likely to cause suffering or remorse.
Moral conduct for Buddhists differs according to whether it applies to the laity or to the Sangha or clergy. A lay Buddhist should cultivate good conduct by training in what are known as the "Five Precepts". These are not like, say, the ten commandments, which, if broken, entail punishment by God. The five precepts are training rules, which, if one were to break any of them, one should be aware of the breech and examine how such a breech may be avoided in the future. The resultant of an action (often referred to as Karma) depends on the intention more than the action itself. It entails less feelings of guilt than its Judeo-Christian counterpart. Buddhism places a great emphasis on 'mind' and it is mental anguish such as remorse, anxiety, guilt etc. which is to be avoided in order to cultivate a calm and peaceful mind. The five precepts are:
1) To undertake the training to avoid taking the life of beings. This precept applies to all living beings not just humans. All beings have a right to their lives and that right should be respected.
2) To undertake the training to avoid taking things not given. This precept goes further than mere stealing. One should avoid taking anything unless one can be sure that is intended that it is for you.
3) To undertake the training to avoid sensual misconduct. This precept is often mistranslated or misinterpreted as relating only to sexual misconduct but it covers any overindulgence in any sensual pleasure such as gluttony as well as misconduct of a sexual nature.
4) To undertake the training to refrain from false speech. As well as avoiding lying and deceiving, this precept covers slander as well as speech which is not beneficial to the welfare of others.
5) To undertake the training to abstain from substances which cause intoxication and heedlessness.This precept is in a special category as it does not infer any intrinsic evil in, say, alcohol itself but indulgence in such a substance could be the cause of breaking the other four precepts.
These are the basic precepts expected as a day to day training of any lay Buddhist. On special holy days, many Buddhists, especially those following the Theravada tradition, would observe three additional precepts with a strengthening of the third precept to be observing strict celibacy. The additional precepts are:
6) To abstain from taking food at inappropriate times. This would mean following the tradition of Theravadin monks and not eating from noon one day until sunrise the next.
7) To abstain from dancing, singing, music and entertainments as well as refraining from the use of perfumes, ornaments and other items used to adorn or beautify the person. Again, this and the next rule.
8) To undertake the training to abstain from using high or luxurious beds are rules regularly adopted by members of the Sangha and are followed by the layperson on special occasions.
*JAIBHIM*...
*Make a decision to give a twentieth part of your earnings.This new way is one of responsibility. We have made some resolutions, have expressed some desires. The young should remember this. They should not become only petty officers for the sake of their stomach. We should make this decision: "I will give at least one-twentieth of my earnings to this work."*
*In this way Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar finished two-hour speech, In Nagpur, on the morning of 15th October, 1956.*
I am asking you 🫵 How many of You *PAYING BACK TO SOCIETY*
Ravikeerthi 💙..
In Maharashtra, Dalit groups hail verdict, strike a note of caution
The Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI)'s chairman Milind Kamble hailed the top court's verdict, saying, “It will be a big step towards empowerment of most backward classes within Scheduled Castes.”
“The reservation certainly has its own objective to address the social and educational discrimination,” Kamble said, adding that along with it, the SCs/STs need to be economically uplifted too.மேலும் பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட சாதிகளுக்கு இடஒதுக்கீடு வழங்குவதை உறுதி செய்வதற்காக பட்டியலிடப்பட்ட சாதிகள் (எஸ்சி) மற்றும் பழங்குடியினரை (எஸ்டி) துணை வகைகளாகப் பிரிக்க மாநிலங்களை அனுமதித்த உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தின் வியாழக்கிழமை தீர்ப்புக்கு பல்வேறு தலித் அமைப்புகள் மற்றும் சமூகத் தலைவர்களிடமிருந்து கலவையான எதிர்வினைகள் உள்ளன. இந்த குழுக்களுக்குள்.
தலித் இந்திய வர்த்தக மற்றும் தொழில் சங்கத்தின் (டிஐசிசிஐ) தலைவர் மிலிந்த் காம்ப்ளே, உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தின் தீர்ப்பைப் பாராட்டி, “பட்டியலிடப்பட்ட சாதிகளுக்குள் உள்ள மிகவும் பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட வகுப்பினருக்கு அதிகாரம் அளிப்பதில் இது ஒரு பெரிய படியாக இருக்கும்” என்றார்.
அரசியலமைப்பின் கீழ் SC/ST களுக்கு இடஒதுக்கீட்டை விரிவுபடுத்துவதன் நோக்கம் இந்த பின்தங்கிய சமூகங்களின் "சமூக-பொருளாதார மேம்பாடு" என்று காம்ப்ளே கூறினார்.
பல தசாப்தங்களாக நாடு முழுவதும் உள்ள மாநிலங்களில் உள்ள எஸ்சிக்களுக்குள் உள்ள சில துணை சாதிகள் இடஒதுக்கீடு உரிமைகளைப் பெறுவதில் தாங்கள் பின்தங்கியிருப்பதாக உணர்கிறார்கள்.
காம்ப்ளே கூறினார். இது மகாராஷ்டிராவில் மஹர் மற்றும் மாதங் இடையேயும், உத்தரபிரதேசத்தில் ஜாதவ் மற்றும் வால்மீகி இடையேயும் , தெலுங்கானாவில் மாலா மற்றும் மதிகா இடையேயும் மோதல்களுக்கு வழிவகுத்தது , என்றார்.
“எஸ்சிக்களுக்குள் பிற்படுத்தப்பட்டோர் மற்றும் மிகவும் பிற்படுத்தப்பட்டோர் இடையே இருக்கும் இடைவெளிகளைக் குறைக்க துணை வகைப்பாடு உதவும். ஒதுக்கீட்டின் கூறப்பட்ட நோக்கத்தை நிறைவேற்றுவதற்கான உறுதியான நடவடிக்கையை நோக்கிய நகர்வாக இது கருதப்பட வேண்டும்,” என்று அவர் கூறினார்.
"இடஒதுக்கீடு நிச்சயமாக சமூக மற்றும் கல்வி பாகுபாட்டை நிவர்த்தி செய்ய அதன் சொந்த நோக்கத்தைக் கொண்டுள்ளது," என்று காம்ப்ளே கூறினார், அதனுடன், SC/ST களும் பொருளாதார ரீதியாக மேம்படுத்தப்பட வேண்டும் என்று கூறினார்.
மகாராஷ்டிராவில், 2011 மக்கள்தொகை கணக்கெடுப்பின்படி, மாநிலத்தின் 16% மக்கள்தொகையில் SCக்கள் உள்ளனர். SC பிரிவினருக்கு வழங்கப்படும் இடஒதுக்கீடு மாநிலத்தில் 13% ஆகும், அங்கு SC குழுக்களில் மஹர் சமூகம் மிகவும் ஆதிக்கம் செலுத்துகிறது.
மாநிலத்திலுள்ள பல தலித் அமைப்புகளும் தலைவர்களும் SC இன் தீர்ப்பு கொள்கையளவில் சரியானது என்று நம்புகிறார்கள், இருப்பினும் அதன் விவரங்கள் மற்றும் தாக்கங்கள் குறித்து அவர்கள் கவனமாக இருந்தாலும், அவை முழுமையாக விவாதிக்கப்பட வேண்டும்.
Ruling a chall enge for government, may intensify Dalit tensions
Sub-classification of SCs and STs: Dalit judge ire at ‘general compartment’ mindset
Justice Gavai, who authored a separate but concurring judgment — the longest at over 280 pages — said it was the State’s duty to provide preferential treatment to backward classes that were not adequately represented
Justice B.R. Gavai, a Dalit who takes over as Chief Justice of India next May, on Thursday castigated those from his community who are opposed to the sub-classification of SCs and STs in the context of reservation.
He argued that the better-off SCs and STs objecting to special measures for their less fortunate brethren were behaving like passengers of general compartments who, having got in, tried to keep others out.
Justice Gavai, who authored a separate but concurring judgment — the longest at over 280 pages — said it was the State’s duty to provide preferential treatment to backward classes that were not adequately represented.
“If the State while discharging that duty finds that certain categories within the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are not adequately represented and only the people belonging to (a) few of the categories are enjoying the entire benefit… can the State be denied its right to give more preferential treatment for such categories?” he wrote.
Justice Gavai said that among the Scheduled Castes, some groups had faced more inhuman treatment for centuries, and that the hardships and backwardness suffered historically differed from sub-group to sub-group.
“I find that the attitude of the categories in the Presidential List (SCs, STs) opposing such a sub-classification is that of a person in the general compartment of the train,” he wrote.
“Firstly, the persons outside the compartment struggled to get into the general compartment. However, once they get inside it, they make every attempt possible to prevent the persons outside such a compartment from entering it.”
He added: “…When the State endeavours to ensure that the said benefit percolates to the more underprivileged and less adequately represented, the sections from the Scheduled Castes who oppose them, stand in the shoes of those who oppressed them.
“I find that to achieve real equality as envisaged by this Court in various judicial pronouncements, sub-classification amongst the Scheduled Castes for giving more beneficial treatment is wholly permissible under the Constitution.”
He went on: “Can a child of IAS/ IPS or Civil Service Officers be equated with a child of a disadvantaged member belonging to Scheduled Castes, studying in a Gram Panchayat/ Zilla Parishad school in a village?
“…Putting a child studying in St Paul’s High School and St Stephen’s College and a child studying in a small village in the backward and remote area of the country in the same bracket would obliviate the equality principle enshrined in the Constitution.”
Scepticism
Some Dalit scholars and activists were sceptical about the verdict.
Avatthi Ramaiah, a professor at TISS, Mumbai, said the material gains made by individual SCs did not necessarily liberate them from the stigma and disadvantages of belonging to the Dalit community.
“Sub-categorisation among SCs can be a progressive idea only when the affluent castes among the SCs are identified, removed from the SC list and included in the OBC list,” he said.
“If this is not done and certain SCs are given a smaller share in reservation, it will be a double whammy for them: they will have fewer opportunities while continuing to face caste discrimination.”
- Lakshmanan, associate professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies, feared that many reserved posts might remain vacant after sub-categorisation because of an inadequate number of “eligible persons from the castes intended to be given exclusive benefits”.
He added: “If the idea is to benefit the neediest among the SCs, a better way is to develop a policy of preferential treatment for them while deciding the beneficiaries of reservation. Certain criteria can be followed, such as first-generation learners and children of day labourers or people engaged in menial jobs, to identify the neediest.”
Courtesy : The Telegraph
Neither do they rob nor do they beat, they just dance in front of the house… Dalit family troubled by these miscreants- Video
Miscreant Rajendra and his companions attacked the victim’s family and fired in the air, about which the victim Ravi Pratap had complained to the Thatipur police station. Now the miscreant is pressurizing the victim’s family to withdraw the complaint, for this he dances and sings in front of their house with his friends at midnight.
(Report- Dharmendra Sharma/Gwalior)
Miscreants often harass people by looting and beating, but can anyone harass someone by dancing in front of the house? It may sound strange but it is true. A similar case has come to light from Gwalior city of Madhya Pradesh, where a Dalit family is facing strange harassment by miscreants. According to the victim’s family, the miscreants do not threaten them but play drums outside the house late at night and dance with their companions.
Actually Ravi Pratap Pippal has built his new house in Tripti Nagar of Thatipur police station area. Where they had come to live a few years ago. But neighbor Rajendra Bundela does not like this family and he is trying to evict this family from the locality. Every day, the miscreant Rajendra Bundela sits with his friends outside the house of the victim Ravi Pratap and not only drinks alcohol but also abuses. Not only this, he also dances with his friends by playing drums.
The victim had filed a complaint against the miscreant
Now the question arises that why does the miscreant Rajendra do this. So the reason behind it is that about 6 months ago on February 4, the miscreant Rajendra and his companions attacked the victim’s family and fired in the air, about which the victim Ravi Pratap complained to the Thatipur police station. After this, the police registered an FIR against Rajendra Bundela and his companions for Dalit harassment and firing in the air.
A strange way of harassing
But till date the police has neither arrested them nor presented a challan against them in the court. In such a situation, late at night, the accused Rajendra Bundela is indirectly scaring them by playing drums and dancing and is pressurizing them to withdraw the case registered with the police. The miscreants are constantly harassing the family in a strange way to compromise in the case registered against them.
At midnight, the miscreants come to Tripti Nagar with their companions and dance fiercely by playing drums and cymbals outside the house of this family. These miscreants include Rajendra Bundela, Nitin Sharma Kapil and one of his companions. At the same time, the troubled victim family says that a case of attempt to murder should have been registered against the accused, but the police have written the FIR as per their wish. The victim family has appealed to the police as well as the Chief Minister of the state Mohan Yadav for justice and protection.
The victim family appealed to the police and the CM
The Dalit family, troubled by the daily antics of the miscreants, is constantly demanding from the police officer to arrest the miscreants and curb their activities. The family is also continuously applying in the public hearing of the Superintendent of Police and this time also the victim’s family has applied to the Superintendent of Police Dharamveer Singh Yadav demanding action against the miscreants. On which the police officers have instructed the victim’s family to investigate the matter and take appropriate action soon by the concerned Thatipur police station.
The victim’s family gave videos to the police
At present, the police has started investigating the authenticity of the videos provided to the police as evidence by the victim’s family. Along with this, the police is also extracting the complete details of the miscreants whose names have come to the fore. The top police officials have ordered the concerned police station to take appropriate action.
Neither do they rob nor do they beat, they just dance in front of the house… Dalit family troubled by these miscreants- Video
Miscreant Rajendra and his companions attacked the victim’s family and fired in the air, about which the victim Ravi Pratap had complained to the Thatipur police station. Now the miscreant is pressurizing the victim’s family to withdraw the complaint, for this he dances and sings in front of their house with his friends at midnight.
(Report- Dharmendra Sharma/Gwalior)
Miscreants often harass people by looting and beating, but can anyone harass someone by dancing in front of the house? It may sound strange but it is true. A similar case has come to light from Gwalior city of Madhya Pradesh, where a Dalit family is facing strange harassment by miscreants. According to the victim’s family, the miscreants do not threaten them but play drums outside the house late at night and dance with their companions.
Actually Ravi Pratap Pippal has built his new house in Tripti Nagar of Thatipur police station area. Where they had come to live a few years ago. But neighbor Rajendra Bundela does not like this family and he is trying to evict this family from the locality. Every day, the miscreant Rajendra Bundela sits with his friends outside the house of the victim Ravi Pratap and not only drinks alcohol but also abuses. Not only this, he also dances with his friends by playing drums.
The victim had filed a complaint against the miscreant
Now the question arises that why does the miscreant Rajendra do this. So the reason behind it is that about 6 months ago on February 4, the miscreant Rajendra and his companions attacked the victim’s family and fired in the air, about which the victim Ravi Pratap complained to the Thatipur police station. After this, the police registered an FIR against Rajendra Bundela and his companions for Dalit harassment and firing in the air.
A strange way of harassing
But till date the police has neither arrested them nor presented a challan against them in the court. In such a situation, late at night, the accused Rajendra Bundela is indirectly scaring them by playing drums and dancing and is pressurizing them to withdraw the case registered with the police. The miscreants are constantly harassing the family in a strange way to compromise in the case registered against them.
At midnight, the miscreants come to Tripti Nagar with their companions and dance fiercely by playing drums and cymbals outside the house of this family. These miscreants include Rajendra Bundela, Nitin Sharma Kapil and one of his companions. At the same time, the troubled victim family says that a case of attempt to murder should have been registered against the accused, but the police have written the FIR as per their wish. The victim family has appealed to the police as well as the Chief Minister of the state Mohan Yadav for justice and protection.
The victim family appealed to the police and the CM
The Dalit family, troubled by the daily antics of the miscreants, is constantly demanding from the police officer to arrest the miscreants and curb their activities. The family is also continuously applying in the public hearing of the Superintendent of Police and this time also the victim’s family has applied to the Superintendent of Police Dharamveer Singh Yadav demanding action against the miscreants. On which the police officers have instructed the victim’s family to investigate the matter and take appropriate action soon by the concerned Thatipur police station.
The victim’s family gave videos to the police
At present, the police has started investigating the authenticity of the videos provided to the police as evidence by the victim’s family. Along with this, the police is also extracting the complete details of the miscreants whose names have come to the fore. The top police officials have ordered the concerned police station to take appropriate action.
- law
Supreme Court Proposes Exclusion of Creamy Layer Among SC/STs from Reservations
New Delhi: Four judges of the seven-judge constitutional bench, which ruled in favour of sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for the sake of reservation, called for the identification of creamy layers among SCs and STs, so that they can be taken out of the fold of reservation.
Justice B.R. Gavai, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma underlined that a creamy layer system akin to the one existing for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) must be put in place to ensure that reservations reach the most deserving among SCs and STs.
“State must evolve a policy to identify creamy layer among the SC ST category and take them out of the fold of affirmative action (reservation). This is the only way to gain true equality,” Justice Gavai said, according to Bar and Bench.
Justice Vikram Nath concurred with Justice Gavai. “I am also in agreement with the opinion of brother Justice Gavai that the creamy layer principle is also applicable to Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes and that the criteria for exclusion of creamy lawyer for the purpose of affirmative action could be different from the criteria as applicable to the Other Backward Classes,” Justice Nath said.
Justice Mithal too shared the same opinion. “Reservation should be meant for only the first generation among a category and if the second generation has come up then benefits of reservation shall not be given and the State should see if after reservation the second generation has come shoulder to shoulder with the general category.”
Justice Sharma too said that the identification of creamy layer among SC and STs must become “a constitutional imperative”.
Landmark ruling on SC/ST sub-categorisation
In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the power of states to sub-categorise reserved groups of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to provide wider representation for underrepresented groups.
In effect, a seven-judge bench which heard the matter overruled its own verdict of 2005 in the EV Chinnaiah v. State of Andhra Pradesh case, which had ruled that SC/ST sub-classification was contrary to Article 341 of the constitution. The particular Article confers the right on the President of India to prepare the list of SCs and STs.
While six of the seven judges allowed for the sub-classification, Justice Bela M Trivedi dissented from the majority and ruled that such sub-classification is not permissible. The Constitution bench was headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. The other judges on the bench were Justice B.R. Gavai, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Bela M Trivedi, Justice Pankaj Mithal, Justice Manoj Misra, and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma.
“The members of SC/ST are not often able to climb up the ladder due to the systemic discrimination faced. Article 14 permits sub-classification of caste. Court must check if a class is homogeneous or and a class not integrated for a purpose can be further classified,” the Bench said pronouncing its majority judgment, according to Bar and Bench.
The court then went on to say there is historical evidence and social parameters to indicate clearly that all SC/STs do not constitute a homogenous class. “Historical evidence shows that depressed class were not homogenous class and social conditions show that all classes under that is not uniform. In state of Madhya Pradesh, out of 25 castes only 9 are scheduled castes,” the court added.
The court made it clear that the sub-categorisation of SCs and STs does not in any way violate Article 341 of the constitution.
“We have also established through historical evidence that Scheduled Castes notified by the President are a heterogenous class. There is nothing in Article 15, 16 and 341 which prevents sub-classification for SCs if there is a rational for distinction and there is a rational nexus for the object sought to be achieved. State can sub-classify for the inadequate representation of some class,” the court observed.
The court, however, issued a note of caution, saying that sub-classification by states has to be supported by empirical data and should be ensured that it is not based on “whims or political expediency”.
“State can adopt any measures to judge inter se backwardness. If the parameter is untouchability, it is not needed that inter se backwardness is also justified on the basis of that but State has to prove it by empirical and quantifiable data. State cannot act on its whims or political expediency and it is amenable to judicial review,” the court underlined.
The court ruling, in effect, provided legal sanctity to laws which provide for such sub-classification in Punjab, Tamil Nadu and other states.
Ruling a challenge for government, may intensify Dalit tensions
NEW DELHI: Passage of time has blunted the strident opposition that existed to the controversial proposal of sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes, because its implementation in states for years made the hostile strong sub-castes reconcile to its possibility, which in turn made political parties shed fears of a backlash from the stronger sub-groups.
But that is true only about the states, whom the Supreme Court has empowered to carry out sub-categorisation of SCs.
In contrast, the apex court verdict has lobbed a nettlesome issue into the court of the Centre. BJP will be expected to spell out its stance on sub-categorising the SCs at the central level, since PM Narendra Modi is seen to have played the catalyst on the long dormant issue with his sharing of stage with Madiga activists in Telangana during the assembly election campaign, and his government’s decision to send out a signal in favour of sub-classification with the constitution of a high-powered committee headed by the cabinet secretary ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Dividing the SCs at the grand national level, away from localised state audiences, risks attracting the cumulative ire of stronger Dalit groups from across the states, who would view it as a hostile act cutting into their share of affirmative action benefits.
How soon the Centre and the states act on the judgement would be keenly watched. What is likely to add an edge to the reaction of certain stronger groups, besides individual reactions across the board, is not sub-categorisation but the introduction of “creamy layer” among the Dalits, as ruled by the supreme court. Already a serious issue among the OBCs since the concept was introduced in the wake of Mandal commission, the extension of the weeding out criteria to Dalits would be watched for the response of the community.
After all, as is argued, “creamy layer” has the potential to choke the supply line of Dalits into the representation chain, which is based on the competitive ability of groups which cannot be achieved overnight. It is a tricky issue, which can test the states as well as the Centre. Sub-categorisation entails division of the SC list into groups of communities based on their status of backwardness and apportioning of total quota quantum among them in proportion to their population.
But the method of accomplishing it, with the supreme court seeking a survey for empirical data on representation of different castes in public services, puts the spotlight on the controversial issue of caste census. Observers say the green light to sub-classification of SCs can give a fresh impetus to demands for sub-categorisation of OBCs, an issue for which the Centre formed the Rohini commission but has been sitting on its report. The report was submitted on July 31, 2023, six years after it was constituted.
There are already calls that caste census would be required for sub-classification of not just the SCs but also the OBCs. Caste census has emerged as the agenda of the opposition, with Congress, SP, DMK, RJD, its champions, as against the BJP which is seen as stonewalling the push.
Courtesy : TOI
‘Tap to unmuteSC On Reservation: Why should the children of Dalit IAS, IPS and ministers get reservation?
SC On SC ST Quota: The Supreme Court has approved a separate quota within SC and ST reservation. Its benefits will be available to those people of SC and ST quota who have been deprived of reservation till now.
Former Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh, BJP MP and Dalit leader Brijlal has strongly supported the decision of the Supreme Court. Brijlal has also been the chairman of Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Caste Commission. He says that the child of an officer and a laborer cannot be compared. The child of a laborer needs more reservation.
13 years of neglect: How Rajasthan governments violated the SC/ST Act
RTI data shows that Rajasthan’s SC/ST Vigilance Committee was supposed to meet twice every year but met only twice in 13 years.
Himanshi Dahiya
Published: 30 Jul 2024,
Rajasthan has violated the historic Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act) enacted in 1989, such that the state-level vigilance and monitoring committee has held only two meetings since 2010, while according to the rules, it has been given the responsibility to hold two meetings every year. This information was obtained by The Quint under the Right to Information (RTI).
Under Rule 16 of the SC/ST Act, this committee headed by the Chief Minister of the state has been entrusted with the task of reviewing the provisions of the Prevention of Atrocities Act and the committee has to review it by holding two meetings every year.
The RTI data and the latest data tabled by the Government of India in Parliament are in sync with each other, showing how crimes against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) saw a sharp rise across the country between 2018 and 2022.
While in Rajasthan, in particular, cases of atrocities against these two castes doubled during the same period, from 4,607 in 2018 to 8,752 in 2022, states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh top the list in terms of crimes against SCs and STs during this period.
According to the RTI data, the first meeting of the State Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee in Rajasthan was held on 16 February 2010 and the second meeting was held 13 years later on 8 August 2023. Both times, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot was the Chief Minister.
RTIs have also been filed in other states like UP, MP and Odisha regarding the same data but the response is yet to come. These three states had the highest number of cases of atrocities against SCs and STs.
Role of SC/ST Act and Vigilance and Monitoring Committee
The SC/ST Act was passed by the Parliament of India on 11 September 1989 and its rules were notified on 31 March 1995. Rule 16 and 17 of the Act provide for the formation of state and district level vigilance and monitoring committees.
This committee, consisting of more than 25 members, is headed by the Chief Minister of the state.
Other members include: home minister, finance minister, welfare minister, MPs and MLAs from SC and ST communities, chief secretary, home secretary, director general of police (DGP), and director of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
RTI data shows that Rajasthan’s SC/ST vigilance committee was supposed to meet twice every year but met only twice in 13 years.
The rule further states: “The High Power Vigilance and Monitoring Committee shall meet at least twice in a year in the month of January and July to review the provisions of the Act as implemented, relief and other facilities provided to the victims and other matters connected therewith, cases registered under the Act, role of various officers/agencies responsible for implementing the provisions of the Act and reports received by the State Government.”
Rajasthan-based social activist Bhanwar Meghvanshi said the RTI reports show how the government is not serious about the Atrocities Act. Meghvanshi told The Quint:
“What we have found is very little. Neither the government nor the police administration is serious about the Atrocities Act. In most cases, if you speak to the investigating officers, you will know how every investigation begins, as if the police assume the case is false and the Dalit Act is being misused.”
He added: “The Act lays down a framework to make Dalits and Adivasis aware of their rights. It mandates those in power to spread awareness. But successive state governments have failed to do so. And when such meetings do not take place, there is no scope for accountability.”
‘Contempt case’
In fact, since the notification of the rules in March 1995, the committee was supposed to meet 59 times, but has met only twice.
In 2015, the Centre for Dalit Rights filed a petition in response to which the Rajasthan High Court directed the state government to “constitute district and state level vigilance and monitoring committees in accordance with Rule 17 and 16 of the 1995 Rules.”
Speaking to The Quint, Satish Kumar, director of the Centre for Dalit Rights in Rajasthan, said the Rajasthan government’s failure to hold regular meetings of the vigilance and monitoring committee amounted to a direct contempt of court.
“In response to our petition in 2015, the High Court had asked the government to constitute this committee, and if it has not done so, it should do so now. So, the government is in direct violation of the court’s order,” Kumar said.
Caste-based crimes in Rajasthan
Cases of caste-based atrocities in Rajasthan continue to make headlines.
In 2022, a nine-year-old Dalit boy from Jalore died after he was allegedly beaten up by his teacher, the reason for the beating being because he drank water from a vessel meant only for upper caste people in school.
The same year, 28-year-old Jitendra Meghwal was stabbed to death in Pali district allegedly for growing a moustache.
Kartik Bhil, a tribal activist from Siroha district, died allegedly because a local MLA hired some people to beat him up. He was beaten up very badly by the goons.
According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the crime rate against SCs and STs in Rajasthan has seen a steady increase between 2018-2022. In the case of Scheduled Castes, the crime rate increased from 37.7% in 2018 to 71.6% in 2022, while the conviction rate declined from 43.6% in 2018 to 39.5% in 2022.
RTI data shows that Rajasthan’s SC/ST vigilance committee was supposed to meet twice every year but met only twice in 13 years.
The crime rate in cases related to atrocities against STs increased from 11.9% in 2018 to 27.3% in 2022. During the same period, the chargesheet filing rate remained low, with only close to 50% of cases being chargesheeted. The conviction rate remains low despite a steady increase.
Courtesy: The Quint
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