A training on Special Enactments was conducted by Dalit Sthree Sakthi for the Women Collective Leaders and Youth leaders on 6th and 7th August 2021 at Hotel Grand Nagarjuna,
, Guntur. A total of 35 leaders participated in the training. Experts in the subject were invited to deliver lectures on these Acts. Ms. Hemalatha, State Coordinator of Andhra Pradesh acted as the moderator of the trainings.
1. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989
Jhansi Geddam, Convenor Dalit Sthree Sakthi explained about the advantages of ST/ST(POA)Act and its privilege to Dalit community. It is the only Act which is used to protect
Dalits from the atrocities committed bythe dominant caste perpetrators. All the individual sections in the Act have been defined and she clearly explained to the trainees in the easiest way through a PPT. Several examples have been taken, explaining each section using real time case scenarios with factual data and she pointed out thediscrepancy
inthe implementationof the Act which is primarily due
to lack of knowledge of police and judiciary. After 2015 amendments of ST/ST POA Act it is necessary to file the charge sheet within 60 days, but charge sheet is not filedeven in a single case within 60 days. Further, as per the latest position, trial has to be completed within another 60 days after filing the charge sheet and she explained that even this is not even in a single case. She then, narrated how the Act clearly mentioned about victims and witnesses in separate chapters which is also flouted in all cases because no one understood these provisions.Only the first phase compensation is being paid to the victims and neither the rehabilitation nor Tas Das are paid in actual practice and this is also a clear violation of the Rules. She analysed, the punishment methodology and fine with respect to each crime in the SC/ST POA Act.She mentioned about the need for translating the laws into simple Telugu so that semi-literates and illiterates also can know the important laws. In this context she mentioned, how DSS has been consistently bringing out in different laws in Telugu concerning the rights of Dalits.
2. SCSP/TSP Act and Schemes:
Sri AV Patel, General Manager, District Industries Department, explained in detail about the Act and various government schemes.He called upon the dalit women to utilise the schemes and start earnings and gain financial independence.Only with financial independence a dalit woman can get respect in the family and society.But unfortunately, there has been no change
change in entrepreneur life of dalit women despite different schemes and programmes initiated by the government. He quoted Ambedkar that a dalit women should be treated with respect by her family as well as by the society. And this only can happen through economical, development and thereby gaining stature in the society. He offeredto help every dalit women from the District Industries Centre and encouraged them to setup new businesses and grow as entrepreneurs.
Sri Krishna Kishore, Assistant Director, Guntur further explained about all the schemes available like PMEGP scheme, Standup India, YSR Jaganaanna badugu vikasam, Mudra etc.
He explained about the process of taking a bank loan, purchasing a vehicle, and applying for a subsidy to establish a small-scale transport business. He clarified that a person can take any number of loans and apply for any number of subsidies. A single person can take a subsidy upto one crore if the subsidy is applied at the right time. He also mentioned that all these advantageous schemes are not being utilised by alits but are being used by binami names by other communities.
3. Personality Development:
Jhansi Geddam spoke about personality development and various aspects of positive attitude.Personality development involves the process of enhancing one’s personality
and developing various skills like communication skills. She explained that since most of the dalit women come from rural and poor background, they feel shy and lack initiatives in dealing with society. It is necessary for them to equip with knowledge and communication skills so that they can develop self-confidence in dealing with others. It is necessary to develop children also on these lines. Further, it is important to have the will to work hard and be honest in all aspect to have an all-round development of personality.
4. Domestic Violence Act:
Ms. Bhagya, State Coordinator of Telangana and Ms. Hemalatha, State Coordinator of Andhra Pradesh elucidated on the law relating to prevention of domestic violence. They gave a PPT presentation and explained the law with illustrations and case studies. There are 37 sections in the Act dealing with rights and duties, various orders that can be given by the court, procedures for complaining, role of protections officers and counselling etc. The advantage of the Act is that a woman can get a residential order to continue to live in the house and claim maintenance. The explained about various remedies that a woman can seek including under Section 498A of IPC and Section 125 of Cr.P.C.
5. Safeguarding Mechanisms:
Jhansi Geddam, explained about the need for safeguarding procedures in any organization.She presented PPT and explained about the concept of safeguarding and the measures to be taken to prevent various harmful practices that may occur.
. She narrated various types of harm that may be caused to the people, community and visitors and how to identify the same. One should know what type of behaviour is acceptable and what is not acceptable. She gave illustrations. It is necessary to report any harm caused to anyone and the need to have mechanisms of reporting. It was clarified about various forms of harmful behaviour and the chief functionaries to take care of complaints and action to be taken. Then it is necessary to protect children below 18 years and others likely to be harmed, people who come in touch with our work, volunteers etc. She explained all types of harm with illustrations and case studies.
6. Legal Interventions:
Jhansi Geddam, National Convener, Bhagya Lakshmi and Hemalatha, State Coordinators explained the need to follow up the cases that are being dealt with by DSS. They pointed out that due to Covid situation many cases are getting stagnated and now it is the time to study each case and its stage for further follow up. We need to monitor the case with the police, social welfare department and concerned personnel.
7. Interactive Session:
In the interactive session everyone shared and discussed various aspects of the organisation, the need to strengthen women collectives and future course of action. National Convener and State coordinators clarified the practical doubts raised by the participants about their individual village issues.
