The AAP-led Delhi government is working on a draft Bill for the constitution of a Scheduled Castes (SC) Commission in the Capital, which will redress grievances of people from the community.
Currently, Dalits in the city move the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) for the redressal of their grievances.
Delhi’s SC/ST Department also receives such cases, but it does not have the mandate to take any action, said an official. Delhi SC/ST Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said that the previous Congress government had initiated the process to set up such a commission and even prepared a draft Bill, but it had “lacked intent”.
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“I read the previous draft Bill and found that it was ineffective. It seemed a frivolous attempt and lacked intent. The files gathered dust and nothing happened. Now, we have prepared a fresh draft Bill,” he said.
According to the draft Bill, the commission will have five members.
The Minister said that his department had received comments from all other departments concerned and a Cabinet note had been prepared, which is expected to be put up soon.
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After the draft Bill is prepared, it will be sent to the Law, Planning and Finance Departments for their recommendations and comments. Following this, the draft will be sent to the Cabinet for approval and later to the Centre. After incorporating the Centre’s recommendations or suggestions for the Bill, it will be tabled in the Assembly for passage.