Skip to main content

Atrocities against Dalits, Adivasis rise amidst 'tall claim' of India open defecation free

Counterview Desk 
The Dalit civil rights networks, National Coalition for Strengthening SCs and STs (PoA) Act (NCSPA) and National Dalit Movement for Justice (NDMJ), have claimed that despite explicit constitutional provision and guidelines, the suffering of Dalits and Adivasi communities across India have continued to increase.
Based on an analysis of the latest data published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), it says, the Dalit community is "not only the victim of the scourge caste system, but also face institutional discrimination and social exclusion."
In a statement, the  civil rights groups note, "India make tall claims of open defecation free (ODF) nation, "but still a Dalit minor girl gets gang-raped and murdered when she goes to defecate and never returns", and "a small Dalit boy loses his life, just because he touches the pot of the school principal, to quench his thirst."
"These are the cases which got the attention of mainstream media. However, the number is huge", they insist, adding, "Caste-based discrimination and caste-based human rights violations, denial of access to the legal system, and stigmatisation prevailed for centuries in India."
Looking at the "recent escalated number of atrocities" against Dalits and Adivasis, in an analysis of the NCRB 2021 report, they assert, "It is the need of the hour to look into the figures and raise questions to the governing bodies and institutions and demand for justice."

Text:

National Coalition for Strengthening SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities [PoA]) Act (NCSPA), a platform of more than 500 Dalits and Adivasis civil society organisations, communities, leaders and activists welcomes the release of Crime in India 2021 report. Data on crimes against Dalits and Adivasis draws a distinct pattern of similarity between rural and urban spaces.
The latest data published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) also captures some anomalies and interesting trends. Every year there is an increase in atrocities against Dalits and Adivasis. Even the 2021Crime data shows the similar trend of upsurge in violence; with large proportion of crimes against Dalits and Adivasi women and children. The Crime in India Report 2021data has revealed that:
Atrocities/crime against Scheduled Castes have increased by 1.2% in 2021 (50,900) over 2020 (50,291 cases). Uttar Pradesh (13,146 cases) reported the highest number of cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs) accounting for 25.82% followed by Rajasthan with 14.7% (7524) and Madhya Pradesh with 14.1% (7,214) during 2021.
The next two states in the list are Bihar accounting for 11.4% (5842) and Odisha 4.5% (2327). The above top five states reported 70.8% of cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes. The recent incidents of atrocities against Scheduled Castes in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana reflects the harsh realities of caste based violence against SCs and STs.
Atrocities/crime against Scheduled Tribes have increased by 6.4% in 2021 (8,802 cases) over 2020 (8,272 cases). Madhya Pradesh (2,627 cases) reported the highest number of cases of atrocities against Scheduled Tribes (STs) accounting for 29.8% followed by Rajasthan with 24% (2121 cases) and Odisha with 7.6% (676 cases) during 2021.
Maharashtra was next in the list with 7.13% (628 cases) followed by Telangana at 5.81% (512 cases). The above top five states reported 74.57% of cases of atrocities against Scheduled Tribes.
Violence against Dalit women: Cases of rape against Schedule Caste women, (including minors) account for 7.64% (3893 cases), with 2,585 cases of rape against Dalit Women and 1,285 cases of minor rape, of the total cases reported. Cases of rape, attempt to rape, assault on women to outrage her modesty and Kidnapping of women and minors cumulatively stood at 16.8% (8570 cases).
Violence against Adivasi women: Cases of rape against Schedule Tribe women stood at 15% (1324 cases) of the total cases reported. Cases of rape, attempt to rape, assault on women to outrage her modesty, and kidnapping cumulatively stood at 26.8% (2364 cases).
Cases of murder, attempt to murder and Grievous hurt were reported as 967, 916 and 1,286 respectively against Scheduled Caste. Similarly for Scheduled Tribes, cases of murder, attempt to murder and grievous hurt were reported as 199,148 and 114 respectively.
A total of 70,818 cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes were pending for investigation at the end of the year 2021, including previous year cases. Similarly, 12,159 cases of atrocities against Schedule Tribe were pending for investigation.
A total of 52,159 cases of atrocities against SCs and 8825 Cases of atrocities against STs were disposed off by police. Charge sheeting percentage for the atrocities against Scheduled Castes ended with 80.0% and 81.4% for Scheduled Tribes.
A total of 2,63,512 cases of atrocities against SCs and 42,512 cases of atrocities against STs came for trial in the court. Out of these cases, trials in 10,108 of atrocities against SCs were completed and 1947 cases for STs. Conviction percentage under the SCs and STs (PoA) Act in conjunction with IPC remained at 36.0% for SCs and 28.1% for STs.
The cases acquitted (includes acquittal as well as the cases where the accused is discharged) is 5,628 cases for SCs and 1399 for STs. At the end of the year 96.0% of cases of atrocities against SCs were pending for trial, whereas for STs, the percentage stood at 95.4%.
Even after the amendments came in force in year 2016, which generated a hope to the Dalit and Adivasis victims in accessing speedy justice, the implementation of the amended SCs and STs (PoA) Amended Act 2015 remains a challenge.
With the audacity with which crimes are conducted it is very much evident that there is complete absence of fear and lawlessness. Apart from violence, being perpetrated on Dalits and Adivasis, there has been an increase in untouchability practices in schools, access to drinking water, access to education, healthcare, and dignity remains a challenge.
We, on behalf of Dalit and Adivasis communities call on the Union and State Governments, political parties elected representatives to take a stand against the rising caste based in the country.
  • We call upon the Government of India to robustly, enforce and implement the new provisions of the amended Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 (2015).
  • Take swift and robust action against the dominant caste perpetrators violating the human rights of Dalits and Adivasis.
  • Conduct an open and transparent investigation under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 and prosecute those Government and police officials who are found to have aided and abetted criminals.
  • Robustly implement the Exclusive Special Courts mandated in the amended act for speedy trials.
We demand immediate action to end atrocities against Dalit and Adivasis; and we will not be appeased by mere promises.

Comments

Post a Comment

TRENDING

Modi’s Israel visit strengthened Pakistan’s hand in US–Iran truce: Ex-Indian diplomat

By Jag Jivan   M. K. Bhadrakumar , a career diplomat with three decades of service in postings across the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey, has warned that the current truce in the US–Iran war is “fragile and ridden with contradictions.” Writing in his blog India Punchline , Bhadrakumar argues that while Pakistan has emerged as a surprising broker of dialogue, the durability of the ceasefire remains uncertain.
Post a Comment
»

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.
Post a Comment
»

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”
Post a Comment
»

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai*  The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.
Post a Comment
»

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.
Post a Comment
»

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

​ By Syed Ali Mujtaba*  ​The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.
Post a Comment
»

Lata Mangeshkar, a Dalit from Devdasi family, 'refused to sing a song' about Ambedkar

By Pramod Ranjan*  An artist is known and respected for her art. But she is equally, or even more so known and respected for her social concerns. An artist's social concerns or in other words, her worldview, give a direction and purpose to her art. History remembers only such artists whose social concerns are deep, reasoned and of durable importance. Lata Mangeshkar (28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022) was a celebrated playback singer of the Hindi film industry. She was the uncrowned queen of Indian music for over seven decades. Her popularity was unmatched. Her songs were heard and admired not only in India but also in Pakistan, Bangladesh and many other South Asian countries. In this article, we will focus on her social concerns. Lata lived for 92 long years. Music ran in her blood. Her father also belonged to the world of music. Her two sisters, Asha Bhonsle and Usha Mangeshkar, are well-known singers. Lata might have been born in Indore but the blood of a famous Devdasi family...
2 comments
»

'Batteries now cheap enough for solar to meet India's 90% demand': Expert quotes Ember study

By A Representative   Shankar Sharma, Power & Climate Policy Analyst, has urged India’s top policymakers to reconsider the financial and ecological implications of the country’s energy transition strategy in light of recent global developments. In a letter dated April 10, 2026, addressed to the Union Ministers of Finance, Power, New & Renewable Energy, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and the Vice Chair of NITI Aayog, with a copy to the Prime Minister, Sharma highlighted concerns over India’s ambitious plans for coal gasification and the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR).
Post a Comment
»

Labour unrest in Manesar trigger tensions: Recently enacted labour codes blamed

By A Representative   A civil rights coalition has expressed concern over recent developments in the industrial hub of Manesar in Haryana, where a series of labour actions and police responses have drawn attention. A statement, released by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), said it stood in solidarity with workers in IMT Manesar and other parts of the country, while also alleging instances of police excess during ongoing unrest.
Post a Comment
»