It has also sought a report on the present status of these communities across the country within one month.
Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday issued a strict advisory to the chief secretaries, home secretaries, principal secretaries of all states and UT administrations to take necessary action against concerned ministries/departments for curbing crime against SC and ST. The advisory has come following growing demand for this section of society. The Ministry has asked for issuance of suitable directions to all concerned for proper implementation and enforcement of the laws and has sought a report indicating the present status in regard to this issue within one month.
The home ministry advisory said that vigorous and conscientious enforcement of the statutory provisions and the existing legislations relating to crimes against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes should be undertaken.
It said that manual scavenging is punishable u/s 14, read with Section 3(1) (a), of the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines(Prohibition) Act,1993. However, the enforcement of the Act by State Governments/ UTs is generally lax.
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes ( POA) Act, 1989, any act done to violate the dignity of a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe by a non-Scheduled Caste or non-Scheduled Tribe person would amount to an offence under Section 3 (1) (iii) of the Act. It may be noted that engaging or employing a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe to clean, handle or carrying human excreta amounts to violating his or her dignity and therefore, may fall within the ambit of Clause (iii) of Sub Section (1) of Section 3 of the Act. Therefore, such cases of manual scavenging may be pursued under appropriate Sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989