Experts and activists blame low conviction and prosecution of atrocity cases as main reason
Activists and legal experts countrywide have blamed the robust caste system, low conviction and prosecution of atrocity cases as the main reasons for the blatant increase in crimes against Dalits.
The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is an effective law in place to prevent crimes against Dalits. However, poor implementation, administrative roadblocks and long winding cases have taken the wind out of the sails for a strong Act. The Jalgaon case involving two Dalit victims have brought these lacunae to the fore yet again.
" The caste system in Maharashtra is quite robust. Atrocities against Dalits are rising and at times police dilute various organisations working for Dalits for they fail to pursue a case. The government will have to hold periodical review meetings as mandated by the Act," said Atmabhan founder Siddharth Mokle.
Human activist Manisha Tokle revealed, that hardly 20 to 30 per cent cases are actually registered under the atrocities Act while rest are rejected at the beginning. It is also disheartening to note that cases of sexual harassment against Dalit girls that are rising remain unreported. ''Discontent is simmering in the Dalit community against administrative apathy. Government should address this on a priority basis,'' she opined.
The struggles that Dalit right activists have to undergo in the country have again been highlighted after the Jalgaon incident.
"It requires immense amount of time, money and courage to fight all these cases. There is intimidation and toning down and dilution of the SC/ST Act. When the law itself is losing sheen, where do these poor Dalits go and where do they get the courage to fight from? ," said social activist Shabnam Hashmi.
Meanwhile the National Commission for Schedule Castes has sent a letter to the District Magistrate and the Superitendent of Police of Jalgaon seeking reports and facts of the case. This includes the government version of the case, arrests made, accused charged, and information on protection offered to the victims.
"There is a manual in place for the authorities to address cases of SC/ST atrocities. I have sought information on whether the rules of the manual were complied to in this case, " said Dr Omprakash Bedekar, Director of National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).
THE PROBLEMS
- Poor implementation, administrative roadblocks and long winding cases have taken the wind out of the sails for a strong Act
- Struggles that Dalit rights activists undergo have been highlighted after the incident
- Also, cases of sexual harassment against Dalit girls remain unreported
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