Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday directed officials to provide jobs to the family members of rape and murder victims from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC and ST) communities. Jagan said the state government will continue to provide financial assistance to victims of harassment, and suggested that land should be allotted to victims from these communities. In the event of land being unavailable, he directed officials to acquire land and distribute it to the victims.
The Chief Minister presided over a high-level SC and ST vigilance and monitoring committee and instructed officials to conduct a speedy inquiry into the pending cases of atrocities against SC and ST communities. "High-power vigilance and monitoring committee meetings were not held since 2013, as the previous government laid no focus on law enforcement, especially in the cases of SCs and STs," alleged Jagan.
He said that a regular review of SC and ST law enforcement, both at the state and district level should be held.
According to the Chief Minister, for the first time in the state, the police department took stringent action against police officers who were found guilty in SC and ST cases and proved that no one is above the law.
He also instructed the in-charge ministers to review the implementation of Prevention of SC and ST Atrocities Act in the districts every three months, involving senior officials and other stakeholders.
The CM directed the officials to prepare standard operating procedures (SOPs) on law enforcement and effective implementation of the Act, including instructing the SC and ST cases investigation wing in the Crime Investigation Department (CID) to review progress on a regular basis.
"Police need to be closer to the backward communities and provide assurance on the law. We have already made it mandatory for Collectors to visit village secretariats once a week from now on. District Superintendents of Police (SPs) along with Collectors should go to the SC and ST colonies once a week," the Chief Minister asserted.
Jagan reminded that at the first Collectors' conference after the formation of the YSRCP government, it was highlighted that the state will stand by the oppressed sections and women. Further, he directed officials to set up special courts, appoint lawyers and also provide assistance to victims.
At the meeting on Thursday, Jagan also released a booklet compiled by the police department on good conduct towards SC and ST communities and women.
According to G Sunil Kumar, Director, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Andhra Pradesh is the only state in the country to give a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the victims of atrocities.
Meanwhile, officials claimed that atrocity cases declined by 11% in 2020, lowest in six years, 36% reduction in SC and ST murder cases and 17% reduction in rape cases among others. In terms of duration of the investigation, officials said the probing time fell from 264 days per case in 2017 to 50 in 2020.