New Delhi: Concerned over the large number of cases of atrocities against the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe community members being reported every year, the Narendra Modi government will launch a national helpline to ensure FIRs are registered smoothly and the victims are provided support in a time-bound manner.
According to a senior government official, the helpline will be launched in April by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
“It will be a cloud-based call centre in which operators will be available at every state/UT headquarter round the clock. It will be a toll-free service and callers will be able to access it by making a voice call/VOIP on 14566 either from mobile or a landline number of any telecom operator across the country. Services would be available in Hindi, English and the local language of the State/UTs. A mobile application will also be available,” the official said.
According to officials, 44,839 atrocity cases were registered against people from SC/ST communities in 2015. This went up to 47,338 cases in 2016 and 50,094 in 2017, but down to 44,505 in 2018.
How the system will work
Another official told ThePrint the helpline will provide relief to victims and make them aware about their rights.
“In view of huge number of atrocity cases being registered every year, extending help to SC/ST atrocity victims is immensely needed in getting their FIRs registered smoothly, providing relief in time-bound manner, getting charge sheets filed as per the schedule, getting disposal of court cases at the earliest and to make them aware about their rights.”
Keeping these things in mind, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment decided to set up a National Helpline against Atrocities on members of SC/STs with a web-based self-service portal this year to help atrocity victims and to generate awareness about the Protection of Civil Right (PCR) Act, 1955, the Prevention of Atrocities (POA) Act, 1989 and their rules,” the official said.
Explaining how the system will work, the official added that under grievances redressal, a docket number will be given for each complaint regarding non-compliance of Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, 1955 and Prevention of Atrocities (POA) Act, 1989 and their rules.
A dashboard will be created for the states/UTs and they will be ranked based on their performance towards the “vision” (stipulates reducing atrocity cases also) of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme which is meant for implementing the PCR Act and POA Act 1989.
“Tracking the complaint and getting a status update would be an easy affair. Every provision of the Acts will be monitored and compliance will be ensured by triggering communication and sending reminders to the state/UTs and the implementing authorities in the form of sending messages and emails,” the official added.
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Praiseworthy. It demonstrates seriousness of intent. Once the message travels down to the police stations, the sense of immunity and impunity will melt.