Himachal Pradesh Government has constituted State-level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee for implementation of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe(Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 and Rules 1995 in the State said Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh, while speaking at 10th meeting of Inter State Council at Vigyan Bhawan New Delhi yesterday.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that District-level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees have been set up at each district under the chairmanship of concerned District Magistrates to review the cases registered under investigated and under trials in the courts. He said that District level Committee have been made responsible for providing immediate relief to victims of atrocities and adequate budget has been placed at the disposal of District Magistrate for providing immediate relief.
Chief Minister said that State Government has taken numerous initiative to bring the Scheduled Caste/Tribe members in social mainstreams and separate budget provision has been made for the member of Scheduled Caste/Tribe for their socio-economic development. He said that a sum of Rs. 195.36 crores are being spent under Scheduled Caste Sub Plan in the State and State-level/District implementations and Review Committees have been set up for its monitoring and implementations. He said that State Government is spending 48.7 percent budget on Social Service Sector and it has received National Award for its achievement on Social Sector.
Virbhadra Singh, said that a sum of Rs 24.44 lakh would be spent to organize 702 camps across the State for conducting awareness workshops a village /panchayat/ block/ district level during current financial year. He said that 388 cases were registered under the act during last five year out of which 242 cases were decided by the courts.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that a State Level Legal Aid Authority has been set up to provide Legal Aid to weaker sections of the society and 162 eligible persons were provided monitory relief amounting to Rs. 26.66 lakh under the Act during last five year.
Chief Minister said that all the District and Session Courts have been notified as Special Courts to conduct the cases under the Act in the State and all the District Attorneys have been appointed as Public Prosecutors.
Virbhadra Singh said that a Protection Cell has been set up at the State- level under the charge of Director General of Police who is responsible for the implementation of the provisions contained in rule 8 while the Principal Secretary(SJ&E) has been nominated as Nodal Officer for various provisions under the Rule 9. He said that all the Additional District Magistrates have been declared as Special Officer while the respective Deputy Superintendent of Police have been declared as Investigation Officer for investigation of offences committed under the Act.
