January 17, 2018: There is no incidence of atrocities on people for being scheduled caste or Dalit in Tripura, State SC Welfare Minister Ratan Bhowmik said today in Agartala. Speaking to media today in Agartala Bhowmik highlighted several initiatives of the State Government ensuring socio-economic development of the SC people. He also mentioned about several skill development programmes undertaken by the State Government for empowering the SC people. Besides, Bhowmik strongly condemned views expressed by visiting members of the National Commission for SC.
A three member team of the National Commission for SC comprising member of the Commission Dr Yogendra Sharma, Director of the Commission S K Singh and a finance officer visited the State on Jan 15 and commented that development of SC community in Tripura was not satisfactory and slammed the LF Government.
Today, Ratan Bhowmik strongly denounced the views expressed by the Commission and said that socio-economic situation of SC in Tripura is better than other States especially BJP ruled States.
“There might be incidences of atrocities or crime, but it is important to note that there is no incidence of identifying a person as dalit and make him subject to deprivation”, he said. In other States, Dalit people are barred from collecting water, perform rites at specific crematorium and even there are reports that SC students face harassment in educational institutions. However, no one treat or discriminate people as SC or non-SC in Tripura. He however, said that the State Government would abide by the Act relating to atrocities – as mentioned by the Central Government.
