National Helpline Against Atrocities on SCs/STs

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CategorySocial

Last Updated13/12/2021

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is scheduled to launch a National Helpline Against Atrocities (NHAA) on 13th Dec 2021 with an aim to ensure proper implementation of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities){PoA} Act, 1989.
The act was enacted with a view to, inter-alia, preventing atrocities on members of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

The Helpline is available round the clock on toll-free number “14566” across the country in Hindi, English and regional language of the State/UTs.
The Helpline can be accessed by making a voice call /VOIP either from a mobile or land line number of any Telecom Operator across the country.
It is also available as a web based self-service portal.

The helpline is meant for generating informed awareness about the various provisions of the Prevention of Atrocities (PoA) Act, 1989 and the Protection of Civil Right (PCR) Act, 1955
The acts are aimed at ending discrimination and provide protection to all, ensuring that every complaint is registered as FIRs, relief is provided, all registered complaints are investigated and all chargesheets filed are prosecuted in the Courts for decision - all within the given timelines in the Act.

A Docket number is given for each complaint received from Victim/Complainant/NGOs regarding non-compliance of the POA Act, 1989 and the PCR Act, 1955.
The status of the grievance can be tracked by complainant/NGOs online.

In 1989, the Government of India passed the Prevention of Atrocities Act (POA), which delineates specific crimes against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as atrocities, and describes strategies and prescribes punishments to counter these acts.
This law does three things: