PANJIM: In all 292 cases pertaining to atrocities against members of the Scheduled Tribe community in the State have been registered with Goa State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes since 2011. Of these, decisions have been taken in 100 cases.
Speaking to Herald, ST & SC Commission Chairperson Prakash Velip said, “A majority of the cases that the commission receives pertain to promotions, land disputes and recruitments.”
He also said that immediate action is taken to investigate complaints and a detailed investigation is carried out as per law by a Superintendent of Police.
Section 3 of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 was amended on January 26, 2016 making it more stringent.
In terms of provisions contained in the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, the police department is the appropriate authority to investigate such cases, hence all cases received by the commission are entrusted to the SP of the concerned district.
Recently, the Gawada, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar Federation (Gakuved) had filed a complaint against PWD officials and the deputy collector under the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe anti-atrocities law for demolishing a house belonging to a family without first providing them with alternative shelter.
The complaint filed before Goa Police and North Goa Collector demands that a first information report (FIR) be immediately lodged against the officials and an investigation be initiated as per provision of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (prevention of atrocities) Act, 1989
