Bangalore ranks third in atrocities against SC/STs

Bangalore city ranks third in cases of atrocities against schedules castes and schedules tribes (SC/STs) reported last year. It reported 85 cases of atrocities against SC/STs last year. Although this figure was much less compared with 141 cases reported in 2008, it did not improve much from 87 reported cases in 2009.

The city is ranked number three in the total number of atrocities against SC/STs. In 2008, it reported the highest number cases in the state.

Mandya saw an unprecedented surge in the number of atrocities committed against SC/STs. Although ranked at 19 in 2009 with 39 cases and 23 in 2008 with 29 cases, in 2010, the district saw 87 cases against SC/STs.

 Karnataka stands sixth with regard to atrocities committed against the backward class, according to the report, even as the state government continues to ignore their plight.  The report, which was released at Shasakara Bhavana by energy minister Shobha Karandlaje, traced the atrocities committed against SC/STs in the light of the SCs/STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.
 Releasing the report, Karandlaje said that a change in the mindset of the people was needed to fight discrimination against SC/STs.

“Unless there is a change in the mindset of the people, rules will be followed only out of fear and people will constantly find loopholes to escape punishment. How long will we continue to discriminate against our own people, be it with regard to religion or caste? It has to end somewhere and the change has to come from the people. What is needed is for all of us to work together, the government, religious leaders, individual organisations working with the people as well as NGOs.”

Motamma, leader of Opposition party, Vidhana Parishad, said that to root out discrimination, there should be better awareness among people, especially the youth.

“On Ambedkar Jayanthi, organise debates on the act and its implementation. Discuss why there is discrimination and what needs to be done to prevent it,” she said.

Thangaraj, IAS, commissioner of state, information commission, said effective action against culprits was one of the steps to ensure that such incidents were not committed again. But focus should be more on steps to prevent such atrocities than on punishment.