Khattar vows to do away with Habitual Offenders Act
‘DISCRIMINATORY’ Says the law will be repealed as it works on the basis of caste
KARNAL: Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday announced to repeal alleged discriminatory Habitual Offenders Act in Haryana.
At a public function held in Panipat on Sunday, Khattar said that repealing the discretionary law which works on the basis of caste would end the era of undue police harassment. He also stressed the need to rehabilitate the denotified and nomadic tribes.
On the occasion, he announced formation of Vimukt Ghumantu Jati Vikas Board’ to bring denotified tribes (DNTs) in the social mainstream.
Bawaria, Sanshi, Bajigar ( Banjara), Spela ( Nath), Hedi ( Nayak), Deha, Odh, Sikligar, Gadia Lohar, Doom/ Mirasi, Singikat, Jogi, Nut, Bhatt, Sorgar/ Shergar, Palgadaria and Ram Sik are listed as DNTs.
He also announced construction of student hostels to benefit member of these castes. Also, he assured to make available plots for the construction of community centres in different districts of the state as per the demand.
Khattar said that ‘ Vimukt Ghumantu Jati Vikas Board’ would comprise representatives of both the government and the community. “An advisory committee would also be constituted to study number of people belonging to DNTs living in different parts of the state. On the basis of this survey, socially backward DNTs will be given housing facilities under various schemes of the housing department,” he said.
He said nomads would get the maximum benefit of the scheme ‘Housing for All’ announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which aims to provide houses to all families in the country by 2022.