By IANS,
New Delhi : The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has increased the minimum amount payable to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe victims of atrocities by 150 percent, it was announced Thursday.
An official release said that amendments made to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995, were notified on Dec 23, 2011.
“According to the amendments, the existing rates (between Rs.20,000 to Rs.250,000) of relief to the victims of atrocity, their family members and dependents have been increased by 150 percent (to between Rs.50,000 to Rs.500,000),” the statement said.
With the amendment coming into force, the minimum relief payable to victims goes up from Rs.20,000 to Rs.50,000.
The release said it is the first time that the scale of relief has been revised since the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules were framed in 1995.