Mysore/Mysuru: Lauding the district authorities for timely distribution of relief to victims of atrocities and violence, National SC/ST Commission Member Anjubala at the same time directed the officials to ensure that perpetrators of crimes are punished. She expressed displeasure that the conviction rate  in SC/ST atrocity cases was just about 3 percent.

She was speaking at the progress review meeting of Centrally sponsored SC/ST welfare programmes at the Deputy Commissioner’s office here yesterday.

Asking the officials of all departments to take serious note of complaints on SC/ST atrocities that are received at their respective office, Anjubala said that officials must take suitable action and ensure that the complaints do not reach the National SC/ST Commission. She also warned of action against officials who do not act on complaints.

Superintend of Police (SP) R. Chethan said that a total of 59 victims of atrocities in three years (2019, 2020 and 2021) have been distributed relief so far.

Maintaining that atrocities against SC/ST communities is under control in Mysuru district, he said that all complaints are being addressed in quick time.

Social Welfare Department Joint Director B. Malathi said that a collective relief of Rs. 2.20 crore has been paid to victims in Mysuru district. The compensation amount has been directly credited to the bank account of the victims through RTGS, she added.

Expressing satisfaction about the progress of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and COVID vaccination drives, Anjubala lauded the officials saying that they had done a marvellous job. She was also happy about the success of MGNREGA scheme in the district.

However, expressing dissatisfaction over the progress of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, she took the officials of Oil Marketing Companies to task for not taking enough measures to sensitise the people on the benefits of this ambitious scheme of the Centre.

Anjubala directed the Lead Bank officials to send a separate report on the loans and advances made to SC/ST community entrepreneurs under the Centre’s ambitious MUDRA scheme.

The Commission Director S.K. Singh said that officials must take all atrocity cases against SC/ST communities seriously.

City Police Commissioner Dr. Chandragupta highlighted the measures taken by the                               Police on SC/ST complaints and grievances.

Stating that Karnataka seems to perform better than other States in respect of dealing with SC/ST atrocities and violence, Anjubala also expressed happiness about the progress made in the implementation of Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP).

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr. Bagadi Gautham, Zilla Panchayat (ZP) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) A.M. Yogesh, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Additional DC Roopa, Dy. Commissioner of Police (DCP) Pradeep Gunti, District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. K.H. Prasad, Joint Director of Agriculture Mahanteshappa, Horticulture Deputy Director K. Rudresh and others were present.