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In a written Rajya Sabha reply, Minister of State Ramdas Athawale said the Centre gave Central Assistance to States/UTs under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) that enforces the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, 1955, benefiting 88,172 victims in 2022-23, 79,667 in 2023-24, and 99,965 in 2024-25 — over 1.18 lakh combined relief figure cited in the subtitle spans 2022-23 to 2024-25.
Central Assistance released was ₹392.71 crore (2022-23), ₹535.30 crore (2023-24) and ₹495.29 crore (2024-25).
Per NCRB's Crime in India report (latest data up to 2024): 55,685 SC-related and 9,961 ST-related POA Act cases were registered in 2024, with 17,123 SC and 7,219 ST cases pending investigation; the all-India conviction rate in 2024 was 33.9% (SC cases) and 33.2% (ST cases).
The Minister reiterated that 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule, so enforcement rests with States/UTs while the Centre issues advisories and funds the CSS.
Support States/UTs in implementing the two Acts, including relief and rehabilitation of atrocity victims
Key: Provides Central Assistance to States/UTs for machinery strengthening, victim relief and rehabilitation; implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Central law criminalising specified atrocities against SCs/STs; provides for Special Courts (Courts of Session specified as Special Courts) for speedy trial. Amended in 2015/2016, which widened the list of offences (e.g., forced manual scavenging, social/economic boycott, sexual exploitation) and added Exclusive Special Courts alongside Special Courts.
Originally the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955 (in force from 1 June 1955), enacted to give effect to Article 17 of the Constitution abolishing untouchability; renamed the Protection of Civil Rights Act via a 1976 amendment
'Police' and 'Public Order' are State List subjects, so law-and-order enforcement (including under the POA Act) is a State/UT responsibility; the Centre's role is funding, advisories and the CSS
Compiles and publishes annual crime statistics, including POA Act cases, in the 'Crime in India' report
GS Paper 2 > Polity > Welfare Legislation for SCs/STs
Recurring — POA Act implementation data is a frequent Parliament-reply topic
A Court of Session designated under the SC/ST (POA) Act, 1989 to exclusively and speedily try offences under the Act
A scheme funded jointly by the Centre and States/UTs, here used to strengthen enforcement of the PCR Act, 1955 and POA Act, 1989 and to provide victim relief