Focus on SC/ST atrocity cases: Tribal Welfare Minister Satyavathi Rathod in Mahabubabad

Mahabubabad: The Telangana Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC & ST) Commission has stood as a beacon for other States, said its Chairman Errolla Srinivas. Speaking at a review meeting that focused on the progress of SC/ST atrocity cases here on Tuesday, he said that the Commission has been trying to improve the system by involving the Minister, the local MP, the legislators and the officials for a speedy disposal of cases.

"Of the 10,800 SC/ST atrocity cases, the Commission has so far solved nearly 6,000 cases and has provided a compensation of Rs 40 crore to the aggrieved," he said.

The involvement of people's representatives in the review of SC/ST atrocity cases has helped the Commission immensely. It's a new concept that no other State in the country was following, he added.

He said that the previous governments before the formation of Telangana had failed to sensitise the legislations that benefit the SC/ST communities. But since the TRS party came to power in 2014, the government has successfully popularised the SC/ST acts and had provided justice to the dalits, he added.

There was a dire need for creating awareness about SC/ST acts and provisions among the people in Mahabubabad, which is predominantly tribal district, Errolla Srinivas said. He told the officials to ensure all the benefits of welfare schemes to reach the targeted groups.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Tribal Welfare Satyavathi Rathod said that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is keen for the empowerment of SCs and STs. She said that the Commission is ably monitoring all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes under the Constitution or under any other law. "The onus is on administration to solve the SC/ST cases at the earliest to provide justice to the dalits," she said.

District Collector Ch Sivalingaiah said that the district vigilance and monitoring committees have been working safeguard the rights of the SC/ST communities. SC/ST Commission members Boyilla Vidyasagar, M Rambal Naik, Zilla Parishad Chairperson A Bindu, MLA B Shankar Naik, Superintendent of Police N Koti Reddy and Joint Collector David were among others present.