Panel seeks enhanced relief, counselling for SC/ST victims
An internal government task force in India has recommended significant amendments to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, including increasing relief and rehabilitation amounts for victims to adjust for inflation and introducing counselling services for both victims and accused. Separately, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) proposed amendments to protect the livelihoods of ST communities alienated from their land and to prevent 'counter FIRs' against those reporting atrocities.
Why it matters
These proposed changes aim to strengthen legal protections and support for marginalized Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities in India, addressing long-standing issues of economic vulnerability, access to justice, and the effectiveness of existing atrocity prevention laws.
An internal government task force has recommended several amendments to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, including raising the relief and rehabilitation amounts that governments are mandated to pay victims of atrocities under the law to adjust for inflation. Among other recommendations made by this task force are measures to introduce counselling for the accused and the victims and their dependents.
Further, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has separately suggested amendments to the Atrocities Act, mainly focusing on introducing a provision to protect the livelihoods of Scheduled Tribe communities who are alienated from their land and are involved in prolonged court battles over it. The NCST has also called for measures to check the registration of “counter FIRs” against those who end up reporting atrocity cases to the police.
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