Dalit leaders allege dilution of SC/ST Act

Guntur: Intellectuals and Dalit leaders urged the Centre to pass an ordinance to protect the interests of the SCs and STs. Amaravati Institute of Social Sciences convened a meeting on ‘Judicial Trends in Recent Times- SC, ST Act’ at a meeting here on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, former IAS officer PS Krishnan reminded that due to Dalits agitations SC, ST Atrocity Act -1989 came into force, but dilution of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act-1989 would render injustice to the SC and STs.                                                               
He said that 78 per cent of the SC, ST Atrocity cases are not being investigated in the country and reminded that the government is not releasing funds to reimburse fee to the SC, ST students due to non-release of funds.

Former union minister JD Seelam reminded that the UPA-II government had set up a committee with the SC, ST MPs to solve problems of the SCs and STs. MLC Dokka Manikya Varaprasad felt that there is a need to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court on dilution of SC/ST Atrocity Act and stressed for unity among Dalits to achieve their demands.