One thousand 140 crore rupees were taken from the Dalits and tribals suffering from atrocities in eight years.

CVMC’s study also revealed that at least 44 thousand victims were deprived of immediate assistance amounting to Rs 1,140 crore. However, this estimate may be lower than the actual figures, as no such data on cases of permanent disability is available in the annual report of NCRB.

A study by the Citizens Vigilance and Monitoring Committee (CVMC), Chennai, has revealed that during the period from 2015 to 2022, Rs 1,140 crore of the prompt assistance amount payable to the victims under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act Crore rupees were not given. Whereas according to the annual reports of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), during the last eight years, 44 thousand 377 cases of murder, rape and arson were registered under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Let us tell you that under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the assistance amount is given to the victims under Ambedkar National Relief Scheme (DENWAS). Interestingly, this scheme was launched in the initial months of the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) central government’s first innings.

It should be noted that under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, provision was already made for immediate assistance to the victims/their dependents. But this scheme named Ambedkar National Relief Scheme (DENWAS) was started after the government reviewed the earlier provision. It is noteworthy that the contribution of the Central and the concerned State Government in the amount of immediate assistance is half each. The review found that aid funds were not reaching victims because states claimed they did not have the funds available. Under this new scheme, an autonomous organization called Dr. Ambedkar Foundation under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment was given the right to approve quick assistance for the victims.

In 2015, a Dalit family from Ballabhgarh in Faridabad district of Haryana, whose house was burnt by upper castes. Two children had died in this incident.

For example, in case of murder, if the deceased was an earning member of the family, then Rs 5 lakh and if the deceased was a non-earning member, then Rs 2 lakh. Similarly, in cases of rape and arson this amount was Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh respectively. Whereas in cases of permanent disability, there was a provision of Rs 3 lakh if the victim was an earning member of the family and Rs 1.5 lakh if he was not. However, the condition was that all these cases should be registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the application for obtaining assistance should be accompanied by a copy of the FIR along with copies of post mortem report/medical certificate and related matters. It was necessary to be sent by the District Magistrate.

But studying the annual reports of the NCRB and Dr. Ambedkar Foundation and answers to a question asked in Parliament, CVMC’s Deepti Sukumar and Geeta Vani found that between 2015 and 2020, only two percent of eligible victims received assistance. Hui. Since the number of beneficiaries in 2021 and 2022 was unavailable, they calculated this number based on the average of previous years assuming 50 victims per year. Sukumar and Vani’s study also revealed that at least 44 thousand victims were deprived of immediate assistance amounting to Rs 1,140 crore. However, this estimate may be lower than the actual figures, as no such data on cases of permanent disability is available in the annual report of NCRB.

Immediate financial assistance in cases of murder, rape, arson by Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (in Rs.)

There is also a dark side to this news that on January 13, 2023, Dr. Ambedkar Foundation published a notification (DAF/1/2023–Admin-DAF 1/25058/2023 EO–64933) on its official website that ‘Denvas’ And the inter-caste marriage scheme is being made a part of the centrally sponsored scheme run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 and Civil Rights Protection Act, 1955 from April 1, 2023. In view of this decision, the last date for the victims to apply for relief amount has been fixed as February 28, 2023 and the Foundation has said that it will resolve the pending applications (if any) by March 31, 2023.

While Deepti Sukumar and Geeta Vani write, “On February 26, 2024, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment issued a circular 11011/14/2023-PCR (Desk. ), in which formats for applying under centrally sponsored schemes were attached. But there is no mention of ‘Denvas’ in these formats.”

Why there was so much stinginess in providing financial assistance under ‘DENWAS’ and why prescribed assistance was not provided to thousands of Dalits and tribals who were victims of atrocities, remains a mystery. At the same time, the responsibility of applying for relief amount to the victims lies with the concerned District Magistrate and not with the victims. Deepti Sukumar and Geeta Vani write that so much care is taken in registering cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act that sufficient documents are available to the District Magistrate to prove eligibility under ‘DENWAS’. Such as – “Any information related to atrocities is taken into cognizance under Rule 5 and then under Rule 6, the Sectional Magistrate or Deputy Superintendent of Police or an officer of higher rank investigates them. “After verification of information, under Rule 12(1), both the Superintendent of Police and the District Magistrate inspect the crime scene and the Superintendent of Police ensures that FIR is registered under appropriate sections.”

But the annual budget of ‘Denvas’ is so small that it will not be able to cover even a small part of the victims. This obviously reflects the government’s intention from the very beginning that it was made inefficient in order to thwart the scheme for immediate relief to the suffering Dalits and tribals.

Courtesy: Hindi News