Sharp Increase in Atrocities Against Scheduled Castes: NCRB Report

In 2023, over 57,000 cases of crimes against Scheduled Castes were registered, marking a small rise from previous years. The government has no current plans to amend the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, citing amendments made in 2016 and 2018 to strengthen victim and witness protections.

In a recent Lok Sabha session, the government reported the registration of over 57,000 cases of alleged atrocities and crimes against Scheduled Castes in 2023. This figure reflects a slight increase compared to 2022, according to data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, emphasized that there are currently no plans to amend the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, due to the significant amendments already made in 2016 and 2018.

The increase in registered cases is attributed to heightened awareness and police sensitization efforts, contributing to broader recognition and reporting of crimes under the Act. These efforts aim to strengthen protections for victims and witnesses.

(With inputs from agencies.)