Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, A team of the SC/ST Commission is likely to visit Punjab during the next two weeks to have on the spot assessment of the situation and the steps having been taken by the state government for their welfare.
Commission vice chairman Raj Kumar Verka said that atrocities on the dalits were on the rise and what was all the more alarming was that counter cases were registered by the police against the complainants. The team would visit every district.
The report would be submitted to President Pranab Mukherjee.
The Commission had today summoned ADGP (Crime) Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota and directed him to submit the report on the Tarn Taran case within 15 days. He said a girl was raped at gun point and an old man was beaten up mercilessly. It was the victim who was arrested.
Replying to a question, Verka said such incidents were the highest in Tarn Taran district as the local police was under local Akali leaders. He also attacked the state government for laxity in implementing schemes for dalits.
He claimed even the shagun scheme was being funded from the funds allocated by the centre for dalit welfare. He said the centre was providing Rs 256 as old age pension for disbursal to the Punjab government but the beneficiaries were getting only Rs 250 with the state government making a cut of Rs 6 per person.
Regarding the molestation and death of a dalit girl Arshdeep in Moga, he said the trial should be handed over to the fast track court.
