National Scheduled Castes Alliance submitted memorandum to the head of the Government of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the Divisional Commissioner of Ropar Mr Rahul Tiwari today, to draw attention towards the rising instances of violence, crime, social discrimination, boycott and injustice against the Scheduled Castes community in India.Paramjit Singh Kainth, President of the National Scheduled Castes Alliance said, “One of the main reasons for writing this memorandum is the ‘dilution’ of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 and in the absence of any significant public position the government so far on this extremely important issue, we requested the government takes a more proactive approach in solving this crucial issue which is close to the sentiments of the SC community. We demanded that the Union government without delay go beyond political compulsions to enact legislation for addition of SC/ST Act in the Ninth (IX) Schedule of the Indian Constitution by calling a special session of the Parliament. This will provide a buffer for any future misdealing with the Act and boost the confidence of the SC community in the government.”
Kainth pointed out to the various schemes like; Stand Up India scheme, Start up India scheme, Pre-Matric Scholarship to SC Student, Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Caste Students, Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP), Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana etc which have been launched by the government but the implementation of these schemes has been dismal and disappointing.He said, “The State government’s especially the State government of Punjab has been increasingly hostile in resolving issues related the Scheduled Castes community and has been unusually relaxed in execution of schemes for the welfare of the community. There are almost 6398 branches of various banks in the state out of which only 886 have joined the initiative of Standup India to provide loans to the budding entrepreneurs of the community. So far no strict actions against the banks that have rejected the scheme or who have not fully executed the scheme efficiently, has been taken by the Government.”
The State government of Punjab also lacks the desire to protect the rights of the students belonging to the Scheduled Castes community. They have been unable to take advantage presented the Post Metric Scholarship for the SC students. The delay in release of funds and inability of the Punjab government to procure them has led to the suffering of thousands and lakhs of students in the State.” said Kainth.Palwinder Kaur Haryau, President of the Women’s Wing of the NSCA, who left the Aam Aadmi Party to join the Alliance said, “There have been numerous counts of violence, rape, torture, assault, social boycott and discrimination against the scheduled castes community in the past, the number is increasing day by day. Law & order situation in Punjab is in turmoil and the strained atmosphere in the society between different communities against one another is a threat to the unity and fraternity of the State as well as the nation.”Kainth said, “It is glaringly evident that these incidents of social castration have resulted in loss of faith and confidence in the government machinery and the justice system. Given the profound crisis that the ongoing cultural and sectarian division represents, Union Government should act sooner rather later to mitigate the volatile situation and should mobilize its efforts along with State Governments to reduce the tension and injustice prevailing in the society against the Scheduled Castes Community.”