Low rate of atrocity on SC people in Tripura: Union Minister
Union Minister of state for social justice and president of Republican Party of India (A) Ramdas Athawale on Monday praised Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and his team for maintaining a strict law and order situation in the state that subsequently lowered the rate of atrocities on lower class people. The Minister who is on a visit to the state said, “In comparison to other states, the atrocities on lower class people such as Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) are less in Tripura which is again reflective of social harmony prevailing all over the state”.
Addressing a press conference at the state guest house, he also placed a detailed data of the reports of atrocities on backward class people. “In 2014 to 2020 there are only six cases with 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 reporting zero cases”. The Minister shared a data-sheet too highlighting the state's share of various central government schemes starting from Pradhan Mantri Jandhan Yojana to Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana. “Under PM Jana Dhan Yojana scheme, 8 lakh 97 thousand people of Tripura opened accounts and deposited Rs 585 crore in accounts. Under Mudra loan 17 lakh 40 thousand people got loans. Under Ujjawala Yojana 2 lakh 67 thousand new gas connections were given. Under Ujala Yojana, 9 lakh 50 thousand LED bulbs were issued” the Minister said.
Arguing that the population of SC, ST and OBC were being noted and came into count in every census but the people who belonged to other castes did not get recorded separately, the Minister added, "24 percent of the population of Tripura comes from OBC background and they get the benefit of 27 percent reservation accorded to the people coming from this category. But, there are certain other communities who are demanding reservation. My demand is that the 2021 census should be caste-based so that the population of other classes can be recorded officially apart from the SC, ST and other backward classes", said Athawale.
To a question regarding the sum of money earmarked for Tripura under his ministry, the Minister said, he does not have the exact figure but all the ministries release the money in time for the North Eastern states but due to Corona the expenditure may have decreased for this particular year, he added.
He had also maintained that this government was keen to develop the living standards of SCs, OBCs, Divangyas, Orphans and other such classes who are facing backwardness. Hailing the new scheme of scholarships, he said, "Rs 35,500 crore will be given to all the states for these pre-matric and post-matric scholarships and rest of the Rs 24,000 crore will have to be given from the part of state government in this Rs 59,000 crore scheme that will benefit not less than 4 crore students of the country".