By Yogesh Maitreya, TwoCircles.net
Mumbai: The ‘Dalit Adivasi Adhikar Andolan (DA3)’ has demanded from the National Commission for Scheduled Caste to direct Maharashtra government to ensure that the officer appointed to investigate cases under PoA submits report within 30 days and that all district magistrates appoint advocates’ panel for such cases.
The DA3 presented a list of demands as part of the memorandum submitted to the chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Caste (New Delhi) during a two-day hearing held here on June 11 and 12.
The meeting – termed as the Maharashtra State Review Meeting – was held with a purpose to “oversee the implementation of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act) Act – PoA – in particular and other issues of Scheduled Castes, such as their representation in education, employment and implementation status of SCSP.
The meet was hosted by the Social Justice and Assistance Department and attended by People’s representative, various organisations, activists and government officer. These included Priyadarshi Telang, convenor of ‘Dalit Adivasi Adhikar Andolan, DA3’, Manoj Sansare and Khobragade from ‘Swabhimani Republican Party’; Amol Madame and Sunil Chavan from ‘Prajasattak Bharat’; Dr Vijay Kadam and former commissioner R K Gaikwad. Activists of National Dalit Movement for Justice (NDMJ) from Maharashtra; Lalit Khandare and Ravi Bansode from ‘Manuski Advocacy Centre’, Pune too were present for the meeting.
Only two or three MLAs attended the first of its kind meeting, Telang pointed out. “Though I reached early but was not allowed to speak in that session, as I wanted to intervene because the information provided regarding manual scavenging was misleading and false, but the session was restricted to MLAs,” he told TwoCircles.net.
In the second half, there was a session for organisations, and barring few employees, organisations from LIC, Airports Authority of India and Bank Employees’ SC/ST organisation participated in it. “Most of the discussion was on increment of caste atrocities in Maharashtra, poor implementation and failure of government machinery to prevent caste atrocities. I asked for special public hearing and a visit to Ahmednagar, to which chairperson agreed. I also pointed out that state government has agreed to establish six special courts for PoA cases, but there is neither any budgetary provisions nor any action on it. I cited examples and cases about how difficult it is to get public prosecutor or advocate of own choice though mentioned in PoA rules,” Telang said.
The activist also pointed that for allocation in Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP), only SC population is considered and not Buddhist. “Census 2011 tells that there is over 6% of Buddhist population in Maharashtra, but they are not considered while allocation but SCSP schemes are extended to them, and this denial amounts in thousands of crores of rupees. Policy decision to include a section ‘SC converted to Buddhists’ can only make count of SC over 17 % and legislation on SCSP/TSP can only prevent denial of due share to dalits and adivasis,” he added.
The ‘Dalit Adivasi Adhikar Andolan, DA3’ memorandum to the chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Caste had the following demands:
1. To direct state government and Director General of Police that the investigation officer appointed shall complete the investigation report within 30 days and submit the report to SP.
2. To issue notifications to all District Magistrates to appoint advocates’ panel for Atrocity cases and appointment of advocate of victims choice.
3. Appointment of Special Public Prosecutor or advocate of victims’ choice in following cases
a. Nitin Aage, Kharda, Ahmednagar
b. Manik Udage, Pune
c. Sanjay Khobragade, Gondia
4. To direct state government for establishment of exclusive special court at least at six divisions of Maharashtra
5. To direct the state government and the Social Justice Ministry to declare districts such as Ahmednagar, Pune, Nanded, Satara as Atrocity Prone Areas.
6. Maharashtra ranks high in police torture and custodial deaths and particularly dalits and adivasis are victims, direct state government to publish a white paper on custodial deaths.
7. Direct state government and Social Justice Ministry to publish a report on implementation of Prevention of Atrocities Act and Special Component Plan for last 25 years.