From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Nov 11: The State Government has released Rs 15 crore to Deputy Commissioners of districts towards payment of compensation to victims of atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
He was addressing a meeting of the State-level Committee on Vigilance and Monitoring of the cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The Chief Minister said the State Government has allocated Rs 30 crore towards payment of compensation to victims of atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in accordance with the norms during the current year. Out of this allocation, Rs 15 crore has already been released to the Deputy Commissioners of districts, who will have to take special interest in ensuring that the compensation amount was paid to the eligible persons as per norms without any delay.
The Deputy Commissioners must also ensure that the compensation amount paid by the Government of India through the Dr Ambedkar Foundation, the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister lamented that the prosecution and punishment was barely 5 to 6 per cent in cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and wanted that the police officers and prosecutors must take special interest to ensure that the number of total cases disposed must be increased.
“It is the duty of senior police officers concerned to ensure that First Information Reports (FIRs) were promptly registered in all cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under the relevant sections,’’ the Chief Minister said and wanted the police officers to complete investigation and filing of charge sheets within 60 days of filing complaints.
Yediyurappa wanted the police officers and prosecutors to ensure that there were no lapses in the filing of charge sheets and also provide necessary protection to the witnesses to ensure success in prosecution.
The Chief Minister directed the police department to take steps to mandatorily ensure video recording in all cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes while registering complaints. The video recording of mahajars and recording of evidence by the witnesses by all police stations would strengthen the cases and investigation into atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, he said.
Yediyurappa also directed that public distribution outlets for supply of food grains and other essential commodities must be established in all colonies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes if the number of such ration card holders with a minimum of 100.
The Chief Minister said the government officers must be proactive in protecting the interests of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and take care to ensure that jobs to the victims was denied due to flimsy reasons.
The District and Sub-Divisional level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meetings must be held every quarter, the Chief Minister said and directed that the Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners must compulsorily convene such meetings and take steps for redressal of grievances.
Social Welfare Minister B Sriramulu, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy, Chief Secretary T M Vijayabhaskar, member MPs and MLAs as well as senior officials were present at the meeting.
Earlier, the Chief Minister presented 751 vehicles to the Police Department for checking human trafficking under the Nirbhaya Scheme.
Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Additional Chief Secretary of Home Department Rajneesh Goel were present at the occasion.
The newly elected BJP MLA from Sira assembly constituency in Tumakuru district Dr Rajesh Gowda called on the Chief Minister at his Home Office Krishna. Chief Minister Yediyurappa’s son and BJP national vice president B Y Vijayendra, who had led the party’s poll campaign, and other leaders from Tumakuru district were present.