People belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities can protect themselves from atrocities by effectively using relevant laws, said K. Ratna Prasadu, Secretary of the erstwhile West Godavari District Legal Services Authority.
An awareness programme focusing on Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 was held on Tuesday (August 12, 2025) at the District Legal Services Authority office here.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Prasadu said that if police stations fail to register a complaint, private complaints can be filed directly in the courts. Under the provisions of the SC/ST Act, a vigilance and monitoring committee headed by the District Collector must be constituted in every district, meeting once every three months to review the progress of cases related to SCs and STs.
The governments are responsible for protecting witnesses and ensuring compensation to victims. In case of difficulties in obtaining compensation, victims are advised to approach the District Legal Services Authority, he said.
Quoting the Protection of Civil Rights Act, Mr. Prasadu stressed that it is the government’s duty to safeguard the rights of every citizen and ensure their freedom to live with dignity. If these basic rights are violated, individuals can seek assistance from the District Legal Services Authority.
Eluru DSP Sravan Kumar, advocate P. Ratna Raju, social worker Methar Ajay Babu, and others were present.
Published – August 12, 2025 07:22 pm IST
