CAMPAIGN LAUNCH TO END UNTOUCHABILITY& ATROCITIES  BY AMENDING AND EFFECTIVE IMPLMENTATION OF THE SC/ST PoA ACT 1989

WHAT:         Press Conference to launch the campaign for Amendments and effective Implementation of the SC/ST PoA Act 1989

WHEN:          3 – 5 p.m, 25^th October, 2012

WHERE:       Press Club of India, Raisina Road, New Delhi- 110001

WHO:           National Coalition for Strengthening the SCs & STs Prevention of Atrocities Act    (NCSPA)

About 150 Dalit, Adivasi and Human Rights activists from 18 states came together in 2009 to form the National Coalition of Strengthening the SCs & STs Prevention of Atrocities Act (NCSPA). Determined not to let the poor implementation of the Act continue unchallenged they demanded that the central, state governments, all political parties, leaders and all Civil Society members should take a decisive stand: No more untouchability and End Atrocities!

Over the recent years, Dalit and Adivasi communities have been increasingly and powerfully asserting their rights and entitlements denied for centuries. This resulted in further increase of atrocities against them. The worsening situation prompted the Indian Parliament to consider the PCR Act 1955 and the normal provisions of the Indian Penal Code inadequate to check and deter crimes committed by dominant caste groups against the SCs & STs. Hence, Parliament found it necessary to enact the SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 & Rules 1995.  This Act is expansive in its scope in many respects: in the list of offences, in constituting monitoring mechanisms, in identifying officers to perform specific responsibilities, in defining their specific duties, in framing penalties for offences committed, and in assuring relief and rehabilitation measures to the victim-survivors. It has, indeed, promised to address the issue of discrimination and atrocities faced by Dalits and Adivasis. But due to the poor implementation of the act atrocities and violence still continues to this day. Therefore to demand an end to atrocities and violence there would be a public sammelan held on the 23^rd of November.

Chalo Delhi- Dalit and Adivasi Sammelan

In commemoration of 63 years of the constitution, 63 thousand people from all the states would march to Delhi to attend a Public gathering at the Ram Lila grounds for a Sammelan on the 23^rd November to give a call to the nation to :

End Atrocities

Annihilate Caste

Uphold the constitution

Following are the speakers at the Press Conference:

1.      Dr Sirivella Prasad, Convener, National Coalition of Strengthening the SCs & STs Prevention of Atrocities Act (NCSPA)

2.      Mr PS Krishnan, Rtd IAS, Farmer Secretary, GoI, Advisor, NCSPA

3.      Mr. Jaisingh, President, Dalit Dasta Virodhi Andolan (DDVA), Punjab

4.      Ms. Manjula Pradeep, Director, Navsarjan Trust, Gujrat

5.      Mr Henry Tiphane, Executive Director, Preople’s Watch

6.      Prof. Vimal Thorat, Convener, All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Munch(AIDMAM)

7.      Adv. PL Mimroth, Director, Centre for Dalit Rights

We will greatly appreciate if you can participate or depute a journalist for the Press Conference.

For more information please contact: Beena- 9958797404, Farah-9560511667

Beena J Pallical

9958797404