Bhubaneswar, Oct 8 (IANS) National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Buta Singh Thursday criticised the Orissa government for not being “serious” enough in addressing the problems faced by the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and failing to stop the “growing atrocities” against them.
“The atrocities against the SCs are growing. There are a huge number of cases of atrocities against the Scheduled Castes pending in courts. But they are not disposed off for years. More than 6,000 cases are pending for years together but the prosecution is almost nil,” he said.

He also alleged that police help the perpetrators instead of helping the SC victims.

He also alleged that the state government does not follow the reservation policy in recruitment formulated by central government, but instead follows its own “state policy”.

“The state is not following the reservation policy formulated by the centre but instead follows its own policy formulated in 1975. There is a huge backlog of scheduled caste vacancies. The state government is taking the plea of ban on recruitment. Instead of following the policy of post basis, the state is following vacancy basis recruitment,” he said.

He also criticised the state government for not giving proper information even after “repeated reminders”.

During the meet, the commission members met legislators, politicians, senior officials and NGOs.