Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Implementation of the PCR Act, 1955 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

What is this scheme?

The Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 is a funding programme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. According to the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, it provides central assistance to State governments and Union Territories so they can effectively enforce the two central laws that protect Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from untouchability and atrocities.

This is not an individual benefit scheme. It is an institutional grant that flows from the Centre to the States. The States, in turn, spend the money on victim relief, enforcement machinery and awareness. A citizen never applies for "this scheme" directly; a victim instead applies to the local administration for relief, which the State pays out of these pooled funds.

The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 makes the practice of untouchability an offence. The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 creates special categories of offences against members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and prescribes enhanced punishments, special courts and mandatory relief to victims.

What does the scheme fund?

According to the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, central assistance under the scheme is used for the following broad heads:

• Relief and rehabilitation of atrocity victims; paid at the scale fixed in the Schedule to the SC/ST (PoA) Rules, ranging from Rs 85,000 to Rs 8,25,000 depending on the offence.
• Incentive for inter-caste marriages to encourage social integration.
• Strengthening the enforcement machinery — setting up exclusive special courts, appointing exclusive special public prosecutors, and running SC/ST protection cells and special police stations.
• Awareness generation, publicity, seminars and rights-awareness programmes so that victims know how to seek protection and relief.
• Travelling and maintenance allowance to victims and witnesses attending court.

The relief amount is released in stages. A part is paid when the FIR is registered, a further part when the chargesheet is filed, and the balance on conviction, as set out in the Rules.

Who is eligible for the scheme?

Because the scheme has two layers, eligibility works differently for each.

For the central grant (the scheme proper):

• State governments and Union Territory administrations are eligible to receive central assistance. They submit proposals and utilisation certificates to the Ministry.
• Individuals cannot apply for the central grant. There is no citizen-facing application form for the scheme itself.

For victim relief paid out of the scheme (who benefits):

• A person who belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe and who is a victim of an offence registered under the SC/ST (PoA) Act is eligible for relief.
• The dependants of a victim who has died are eligible where the Rules provide for it.

Who is not eligible for victim relief:

• A person who is not a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe cannot claim relief under the PoA Act, because the Act protects only these communities.
• A claim that is not backed by an FIR registered under the Act is not eligible for relief under this scheme.

What documents are required?

How to apply under this scheme

Because this is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, there are two distinct routes.

Route for a victim seeking relief (individuals):

1. Ensure an FIR is registered at the police station under the relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
2. Approach the District Magistrate or Superintendent of Police office, which is responsible for sanctioning relief under the SC/ST (PoA) Rules.
3. Submit your caste certificate, FIR copy and bank details; the district administration processes the relief and credits it to your account in stages as the case progresses.

Route for a State/UT (the institutional grant):

1. The State Social Welfare or SC Welfare Department prepares an annual proposal with the plan of expenditure on enforcement, relief and awareness.
2. The proposal, along with utilisation certificates for earlier grants, is submitted to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
3. The Ministry releases the central share of the approved expenditure to the State.

Funding pattern

According to the Department, the scheme operates on a shared-funding basis. For most States the Centre bears 50% of the expenditure over and above the State's committed liability, with a higher central share for North-Eastern States. Certain heads, such as the reimbursement for exclusive special courts, follow the norms notified from time to time.

Where to get help

• State SC/ST Welfare Department or the District Magistrate's office for victim relief and rehabilitation.
• Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, socialjustice.gov.in, for the scheme guidelines and State proposals.

Because relief is a legal entitlement under the SC/ST (PoA) Rules, no fee is payable to any agent or middleman for filing a relief claim. Victims should deal only with the police and the district administration.