- State Government is committed to social harmony
- Speedy justice and quick help to the victims of atrocities is government’s priority
- A comprehensive review of the cases registered under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was made
Gujarat chief minister Mr. Narendra Modi today chaired the review meeting of State Monitoring and Vigilance Committee (SVMC) on the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Chief Minister Mr. Modi, during the meeting, expressed the state government’s commitment of extending all the social rights and justice to the Dalits, deprived and all those victimized section of the society.
Mr. Modi said, “Be it dalits or tribal, all of them want to grow and progress amidst peaceful and harmonious environment. Also there is a need to keep strict watch over those with vested interests and having a mentality of causing social tension and conflicts.” This was the first review meeting of the committee after it was reconstituted in June 2013 following a formation new state government in December 2012.
Others who participated in the SVMC meeting include ministers; Mr. Nitinbhai Patel, Ramanbhai Vora, Ganpatbhai Vasava, MLAs of the ruling party and MPs, chief secretary Dr. Varesh Sinha and other secretaries and senior officials of the state.
While giving a detailed background on state government’s commitment to bring social harmony (Samarasta), Mr. Modi said, “It is our joint social responsibility and priority to extend all the possible help and speedy justice to Dalits, tribal and those who are victimized. Also there is a need to keep a guard against those with a mentality of causing social tension and conflicts and in turn initiate efforts to make the environs of this social harmony (sadbhavana) stronger.”
Reaffirming state government’s commitment of extending quick help and justice, the meeting reviewed cases filed under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and also reviewed important issues like whether pending cases are resolved, progress made in special courts, extending of police protections and immediate help.
State government stresses complete seriousness and priority to the crimes committed against Dalits and tribal. With this there is also a need to keep a check proper over those factors having a mentality to cause social tensions among the Dalits and tribal living in social harmony and those making efforts to mislead this section of the society. Mr. Modi also appealed the District and Taluka level monitoring and vigilance committees to perform their social responsibilities more positively and even lawyers and the bar associations can discharge their social responsibility (of Samajik Sadbhaav) towards the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes.
In Gujarat there are 25 special courts are formed and equal numbers of judges have been designated to bring speedy justice and solution to cases filed under this Act. In Gujarat, the number of cases filed under this Act is low compared other states and the state is also leads in filing of charge-sheet under such cases.
During the meet, chief minister Mr. Modi also suggested bringing of qualitative changes in the overall process of giving a speedy justice for such cases and there should not be any delay on the part of government in proceedings with such cases. And, even if there is any legal confusion or comprehensive legal opinion to be taken, it should be taken immediately, said Mr. Modi, adding that support of everyone for development of all in Gujarat means we are committed to social harmony.
