Good governance? Gujarat's conviction rate in anti-Dalit cases is poorer than Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh

Conviction rate in anti-atrocity cases (%)

By A Representative
Well-known Dalit rights activist Manjula Pradeep, releasing fresh data suggesting Gujarat’s failure to take care of the scheduled castes (SCs), has alleged that the “progressive” state is far behind the two “backward” neighbouring states, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, in implementing the anti-atrocities Act. The Act envisages stringent punishment to those involved in acts of oppression against Dalits and tribals. “The conviction rate of those found involved in violating the law is just about 7.8 per cent in Gujarat, as against 29 per cent in Madhya Pradesh and 41 per cent in Rajasthan”, she declared.
Pradeep, who heads NGO Navsarjan Trust, said in a statement, “Data between 2006 and 2013 reveal that every year on an average 18 Dalits are killed in Gujarat, 37 Dalit women are raped, 52 Dalits suffer serious injury at the hand of higher castes, and 1,029 families are subjected to one of another form of atrocity.” Taking a direct snipe at BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s governance claims, she added, “As many as 11 districts in the state have been declared sensitive from the point of view of anti-Dalit atrocities.”
Giving specific instances, Pradeep said, “Over the last two years, Dalits were burnt alive in Akolali, Shekhpar and Amraiwadi; there were deaths in police firing in Thangarh; Dalits youths were hacked to death by mobs in Rethal, Loliya and Timba; cases of death due to asphyxiation in manholes were registered in Unza; and number of instances of forced migration of Dalits from their permanent place of living have gone up drastically.”

Manjula Pradeep

“Despite so many cases, the Gujarat chief minister has no time monitor atrocities”, Pradeep alleged, adding, “As against the provision of holding at least two meetings a year, or 26 meetings in 13 years of his rule, he has taken just six meetings. This can be interpreted as violation of the constitutional norm. And all this happened despite the fact that, between 2006 and 2013, as many as 8,884 cases of atrocities against Dalits have come to light, including 145 deaths, 295 rapes, and 419 serious injuries”.
Pointing out that Modi’s “good governance” claims stand exposed, Pradeep said, there were 109 cases when Dalits were forcibly driven out of their villages because of high caste oppression. All this is happening at a time when the state government is refusing to fill up administrative posts to fight atrocity cases. “As against 175 posts in district police administration, 81 posts are vacant”, she said, adding, “Out of 32 posts of deputy superintendent of police, 22 are vacant. For years, postings been made on 23 of 24 posts of PSI under the social welfare department.”
Pradeep further said, under the anti-atrocities Act, special courts have been formed in Rajasthan, and all cases related with atrocities against Dalits and tribals are taken to these courts in order to ensure their quick conclusion. “In Gujarat, on other hand, only when an anti-atrocities case is taken up by a court, it is converted into a special court. This delays conviction. Not without reason, in Gujarat, as many as 42.47 per cent such cases are pending without conclusion for between three to 10 years.”

Comments

Delhi Jal Board under fire as CAG finds 55% groundwater unfit for consumption

By A Representative A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India audit report tabled in the Delhi Legislative Assembly on 7 January 2026 has revealed alarming lapses in the quality and safety of drinking water supplied by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), raising serious public health concerns for residents of the capital.

Advocacy group decries 'hyper-centralization' as States’ share of health funds plummets

By A Representative In a major pre-budget mobilization, the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), India’s leading public health advocacy network, has issued a sharp critique of the Union government’s health spending and demanded a doubling of the health budget for the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year.

Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar’s views on religion as Tagore’s saw them

By Harasankar Adhikari Religion has become a visible subject in India’s public discourse, particularly where it intersects with political debate. Recent events, including a mass Gita chanting programme in Kolkata and other incidents involving public expressions of faith, have drawn attention to how religion features in everyday life. These developments have raised questions about the relationship between modern technological progress and traditional religious practice.

Stands 'exposed': Cavalier attitude towards rushed construction of Char Dham project

By Bharat Dogra* The nation heaved a big sigh of relief when the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel (Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand) were finally rescued on November 28 after a 17-day rescue effort. All those involved in the rescue effort deserve a big thanks of the entire country. The government deserves appreciation for providing all-round support.

Jayanthi Natarajan "never stood by tribals' rights" in MNC Vedanta's move to mine Niyamigiri Hills in Odisha

By A Representative The Odisha Chapter of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), which played a vital role in the struggle for the enactment of historic Forest Rights Act, 2006 has blamed former Union environment minister Jaynaynthi Natarjan for failing to play any vital role to defend the tribals' rights in the forest areas during her tenure under the former UPA government. Countering her recent statement that she rejected environmental clearance to Vendanta, the top UK-based NMC, despite tremendous pressure from her colleagues in Cabinet and huge criticism from industry, and the claim that her decision was “upheld by the Supreme Court”, the CSD said this is simply not true, and actually she "disrespected" FRA.

Pairing not with law but with perpetrators: Pavlovian response to lynchings in India

By Vikash Narain Rai* Lynch-law owes its name to James Lynch, the legendary Warden of Galway, Ireland, who tried, condemned and executed his own son in 1493 for defrauding and killing strangers. But, today, what kind of a person will justify the lynching for any reason whatsoever? Will perhaps resemble the proverbial ‘wrong man to meet at wrong road at night!’

Zhou Enlai: The enigmatic premier who stabilized chaos—at what cost?

By Harsh Thakor* Zhou Enlai (1898–1976) served as the first Premier of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from 1949 until his death and as Foreign Minister from 1949 to 1958. He played a central role in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for over five decades, contributing to its organization, military efforts, diplomacy, and governance. His tenure spanned key events including the Long March, World War II alliances, the founding of the PRC, the Korean War, and the Cultural Revolution.

'Threat to farmers’ rights': New seeds Bill sparks fears of rising corporate control

By Bharat Dogra As debate intensifies over a new seeds bill, groups working on farmers’ seed rights, seed sovereignty and rural self-reliance have raised serious concerns about the proposed legislation. To understand these anxieties, it is important to recognise a global trend: growing control of the seed sector by a handful of multinational companies. This trend risks extending corporate dominance across food and farming systems, jeopardising the livelihoods and rights of small farmers and raising serious ecological and health concerns. The pending bill must be assessed within this broader context.

Climate advocates face scrutiny as India expands coal dependence

By A Representative The National Alliance for Climate and Environmental Justice (NACEJ) has strongly criticized what it described as coercive actions against climate activists Harjeet Singh and Sanjay Vashisht, following enforcement raids reportedly carried out on the basis of alleged violations of foreign exchange regulations and intelligence inputs.

Search This Blog