Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Directorate of Social Welfare, Government of Goa, is implementing the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, along with the Rules of 1995, enacted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The primary objective of the Act is to prevent offences of atrocities against members of the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), while also ensuring justice through the establishment of Special Courts and provisions for relief and rehabilitation of victims.
Under the provisions of the Act and its Rules, the State Government provides several benefits to the victims, including videography facilities for recording statements, compensation as per the prescribed guidelines, and financial assistance of ₹2.5 lakh to couples in inter-caste marriages where one spouse belongs to the SC community.
To facilitate effective implementation, the District and Sessions Courts in North and South Goa have been designated as Special Courts. Complaints registered under the Act are periodically reviewed by the District Collectors during quarterly meetings to ensure timely redressal and justice.
The public is encouraged to refer to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and Rules, 1995, for detailed information. Relevant government notifications include Notification No. 33 of 1989 dated September 11, 1989; Notification No. 13/2/92-SWD dated July 17, 1996 (published in Series I, No. 23 on September 5, 1996); Notification No. 59-9-2007-BC(22)/PART II/5460 dated October 24, 2016; and Notification No. 10/4/2016-LA dated May 6, 2016.
