With a view to build the capacity of Community Based Organisations (CBOs) on the issues of Scheduled Castes and Tribes (SCs-STs) and formation and activation of Social Justice Committees (SJCs) in Panchayats, a one-day training was organised at Samagrah Sewa, Jamui Bihar, 20 October.

The training aimed to develop an understanding on the SC/ST Atrocity Prevention Act 1989 and enable the participants to understand and access its provisions. Mr. Ravindra Kumar, legal expert, facilitated a session on the various provisions of the Act, highlighting the provisions on compensation and punishment in different cases of atrocities against SC community. He also provided legal suggestions to the participants in cases of atrocities being lodged with a court of law. He said that about 40--50 per cent of the cases of atrocities related with minor injuries, humiliation, etc. go unreported due to ignorance of the community about the provisions of the law.

Mr. Amitabh Bhushan of PRIA facilitated a session on Constitutional provisions for the development of SC community. A large group discussion was facilitated for developing conceptual clarity on these provisions. He shared with the participants on the provision of SJC to be formed as one of the standing committees at all the three tiers of Panchayat. Mr. Bhushan said that SJCs would help the: a) Promotion of educational, economic, social, cultural and other interest of SCs--STs and other weaker sections; b) Promotion of such caste and classes from social injustice and all forms of exploitation; and the welfare of women and children. He also shared PRIA’s experience in formation and working of SJC in Phulwarisharif, Patna.

While addressing the participants, Mr. Bhawanand, Secretary, Parivar Vikas, Jamui, shared that in the 20 years of his working, he never came across any success story of access to rights and entitlements through violent means. He firmly said that Parivar Vikas was able to get 12 acres of land freed from influential persons, which were handed over to SC community through peaceful process. Concluding the session he emphasised that the community has to be organised and sensitised to take peaceful initiatives for reduction of atrocities and access to rights.

Representatives of various CBOs such as Van Raksha Samiti, Bihar Lok Adhikar Manch and Mahadalit Sangh attended the training.