Haryana CM asks officers to provide immediate relief to SC/ ST victims

Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal directed the officers to expedite the process for providing immediate relief to the members belonging to the Scheduled Castes, who became victim of atrocities under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, through the corpus fund set up for this purpose.

The Chief Minister, who was presiding over a meeting of State Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee constituted under Rule 16 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rule 1995 here on Monday, said that the state government had already set up a corpus fund of Rs two crore to help such victims.

While reviewing the schemes under the Protection of Civil Rights Act, the Chief Minister asked the officers to publicise the legal aid scheme so that maximum person could get financial assistance for defending civil cases. Under this scheme, legal aid of Rs 11,000 was being given to the Scheduled Castes persons for defending cases such as ejectment from land and protection against exploitation by landlords.

He also reviewed the relief and rehabilitation facilities provided to the victims and prosecution of cases under the Act.

It was informed in the meeting that state government was taking all necessary steps to prevent and curb atrocities on the members of Scheduled Castes by enforcing the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.