The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has released central assistance totaling ₹1,423.30 crore to States and Union Territories over three financial years (2022-25) for implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The funding was allocated through a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with ₹392.71 crore in 2022-23, ₹535.30 crore in 2023-24, and ₹495.29 crore in 2024-25.
This financial assistance supports multiple implementation mechanisms including the establishment of 217 Exclusive Special Courts across 15 States and Union Territories specifically for trial of offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The scheme also provides for strengthening of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Protection Cells, Special Police Stations, judicial machinery, victim relief and rehabilitation, inter-caste marriage incentives, and awareness generation activities.
Significant outcomes include relief provided to 88,172 victims in 2022-23, 79,667 victims in 2023-24, and 99,216 victims in 2024-25. The inter-caste marriage incentive program showed substantial growth, supporting 14,225 couples in 2022-23 increasing to 26,050 couples in 2024-25.
The Ministry has also launched SAMBAL (formerly National Helpline Against Atrocities) providing accessible grievance redressal through toll-free number 1800-202-1989 and short code 14566. According to Crime in India data referenced, 65,646 cases were registered under the Act in 2024, compared to 70,725 in 2023 and 67,633 in 2022, with 3,92,006 cases pending trial at the end of 2024.