Education is key for progress of Dalits: Justice K G Balakrishnan

Update: 2019-11-04 04:10 IST

Vijayawada: Supreme Court former Chief Justice and former Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Justice K G Balakrishnan has said most of the cases registered in connection with atrocities against persons belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are genuine.

He felt that the offenders were trying to intimidate the victims not to lodge complaintswith the police or to withdraw the cases. He said education playedan important role in creating awareness on the rights of the Dalits. He was the chief guest at the National Convention on SC/STs (POA) Act organised at the MBVK Bhavan on Sunday.

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All India Dalit Rights forum (AIDRF) in association with National Dalit Movement for Justice NDMJ-NCDHR, Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch (DSMM), New Delhi, jointly organised the convention. Lawyers, human rights activists, representatives of various Dalit organisations, officials of various government departments, NGOs and others attended the convention.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice Balakrishnan said most of the cases related to atrocities on SC/STs are genuine and pointed out most of the victims in the SC/ST atrocity cases are poor and weak. He pointed out that the offenders are politically and economically sound and they would intimidate the victims to withdraw the cases.

Justice Balakrishnan said the accused were using their influence to delay the registration of cases and moreover they were trying to put pressure on the police to register cases against the victims. He said in some cases the offenders tried to settle the cases outside the police stations and the courts.

He called upon the Dalits to give their children good and quality education and create awareness on the human rights and how to protect their rights. He felt that the Dalits needed judicial assistance to fight for their rights and get justice.

A large number of people came to Delhi in search of livelihood as well as to escape from the caste prejudice and suppression. He pointed out education is key for the progress of not only individuals but also the entire society.

He said he came to Vijayawada second time and complemented the people of Vijayawada for their awareness on social issues. VCK Party president Tirumalavan expressed concern over increasing atrocities and attacks on Dalits in the country and appealed to the Dalits to fight unitedly for their rights.

Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch national secretary V Srinivasa Rao, Kula Vivaksha Vyatireka Porata Samiti (KVPS) State General Secretary A Malyadri and others attended the meeting.

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