New Delhi, July 18 (UNI) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday assured members in Rajya Sabha of full protection to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities in the country.
'Nobody is seizing whatever protection is available to SC and ST communities and therefore there is no dilution of whatever is provided under law,’’ he said replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour.
The Minister said that the government was serious about the matter and has strengthened the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2016, not only through amendments but also through Rules.
'Some crimes that were not included in the Act have been added by our government to extend full protection to those belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities,' the Minister said.
Mr Singh said that for speedy trials, the government has established not just Special Courts but 194 Exclusive Special Courts which has enhanced the conviction rates of crimes against SC/STc.
Earlier, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir told members that in the last four years, there have been no increase in crimes against SC/STs.
He said no separate data is maintained on crime against women SC/ST members of the community.
The Minister said that in 2015, when the Act was amended, to the existing 22 crimes against the community, 25 more were added including rape, assault and other such crimes.
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