Pending cases at NCSC to be cleared in a year: Katheria

: National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) chairman Ram Shankar Katheria on Friday assured that 30,000- 40,000 cases pending at the commission would be cleared within a year.

“Applicants can lodge complaints online and this is aimed at providing speedy and accessible justice. There is pendency of about 30,000-40,000 cases at NCSC, but we will decide all matters within one year. New complaints lodged will be decided in six months,” claimed Katheria in an interaction with HT during his visit to Agra.

Katheria, Agra MP, informed that the first task he took up as chairman was to bring the NCSC online.

He highlighted that despite reservation, dalits were yet to get their rights despite constituting 20% of the nation population.

“One cannot dream of the nation’s progress without such a large percentage of population lagging behind. Dalits are yet to be brought forward on the social, political and economic fronts in a nation where the social fabric of past has led to illpractices of untouchability and discrimination on basis of caste,” stated Katheria.

He said personalities like Swami Vivekanand, Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak worked for the cause of dalits before Dr BR Ambedkar.

“But Ambedkar’s efforts were much talked about because he was from same section of society and created awareness, which brought various organisations that worked for the dalits,” added Katheria.

Katheria said initially dalits were misled and political parties painted the BJP as an antidalit party.

“The propaganda against the BJP could not work for long. After understanding the party’s policies, the dalits left those who were utilising them as vote bank and came with the BJP for their all-round progress,” stated Katheria.

“Besides deciding on the complaints brought to it, the NCSC is also expected to ensure that the due share of development schemes reaches the section of society for which they are meant,” he said.

Besides deciding on the complaints brought to it, the NCSC is also expected to ensure that development schemes reach the needy RAM SHANKAR KATHERIA, NCSC chief