NCSC’s initiative to create awareness for Scheduled Castes

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Arun Halder, the Vice Chairman of the National Commission for Schedule Castes (NCSC), Government of India, with Paban Kr Borthakur, IAS, Chief Secretary, Assam, Gyanendra Pratap Singh, IPS, Director General of Assam Police, Assam, and Organizations/Associations working for the welfare of SCs of Assam met at Vivanta, Khanapara today. The organizations present are-All Assam SC Employees Association, Anusuchit Jati Yuva Chatra Sangathan, Anusuchit Jati Mahila Parishad, All Assam SC Students' Union, Navo Prabhat NGO, Dr Ambedkar Mission, and Assam Anusuchit Jati Silpi Koch.

The Vice Chairman of NCSC briefed the house about NCSC's work and also urged the Assam Government as well as SC (scheduled caste) organizations to take initiatives for awareness generation regarding the functioning of NCSC to help SC people. The Vice Chairman requested the organizations present put forward their views.

The organizations requested NCSC's intervention, inter alia, regarding the following points: special appointment drives for SC people for clearing backlog vacancies, ensuring implementation of the Prevention of Atrocity Act and putting information boards in all police stations; demand for allotment of work to SC contractors from the Directorate of SC and from SC Corporation, free training for SC students regarding competitive exams; demand for enhancement of inter-caste marriage assistance; and ensuring credit linkage for SC entrepreneurs.He has urged that there should be proper hoardings in front of every police station that say that SVs and STs should register their problems under the Prevention of Atrocity Act. They should be made aware of all the schemes, as there is less awareness among them. This can be done with the various organisations and by asking people to relieve it.

The Chief Secretary and the DGP stated that the government agencies would take all necessary actions in response to any specific complaints or issues raised. All the organizations were requested to submit their specific complaints. Mukesh Sahu, Principal Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, gave a presentation regarding various government schemes being implemented for SC people through the Department. To raise awareness, the Vice Chairman suggested appointing a liaison officer in each department.

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