SC panel complains to Kalam

According to Bhan, with 34,000 cases of atrocities against Dalits registered in 2004, and with a conviction rate of just 3 per cent, social unrest in the country can only

escalate.

8216;8216;Our experience has been that, in spite of there being very strong laws, the prolonged court cases make possible a growing tendency on the part of the accused to put pressure on victims to withdraw cases,8217;8217; Bhan said.

Tensions between the Ministry of Social Welfare and Bhan8212;an NDA appointee8212;have been long in the brewing. Bhan is particularly upset with the ministry for shooting down, on financial grounds, his latest proposal on organising national consultations on atrocities against Dalits.

It also seems that the ministry had refused to pay for a dinner party Bhan hosted for MPs from the scheduled castes and tribes last year.

The exasperated National Commission for Scheduled Castes chief had then managed to foot the bill with help from the commission8217;s sister concern, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.

Bhan8217;s letter to the President has listed problems he has faced in running the commission effectively which come, he claims, from government indifference.

For example the commission urgently needs 60 new staff and has no law officer or DIG Police to carry out investigations. Bhan has also complained to the President that the government has not consulted the commission on any matter so far8212;a mandatory provision in the law.