Gujarat Records 4,890 Cases of Atrocities Against SC, ST Communities in 2022-24; Convictions Far Below National Rate

Gandhinagar: Gujarat recorded 4,890 cases of atrocities against Scheduled Caste (SC) communities and Scheduled Tribes (STs) between 2022 and 2024, according to data placed before the Rajya Sabha.

The state registered 1,609 cases in 2022, 1,680 in 2023 and 1,601 in 2024. Cases related to the SC community made up around 81% of the total during the three-year period.

The data also showed a decline in the number of cases with pending investigation. The overall figure fell from 489 in 2022 to 449 in 2024, marking a reduction of 8.2%.

A sharper decline was reported in cases related to ST communities with the number of cases pending investigation falling from 125 to 90, while for those involving SC communities, the number fell only marginally, from 364 to 359.

Conviction rates

Conviction rates, however, remained low. For SC cases, the rate rose from 4.4% in 2022 to 7.4% in 2023, before falling to 5.4% in 2024. Among ST cases, the conviction rate increased from 8% in 2022 to 11.7% in 2023, then fell to 4.5% in 2024.

The figures for 2024 were considerably lower than the national conviction rates of 33.9% for SC cases and 33.2% for ST cases, the New Indian Express reported.

At the same time, the number of victims receiving relief increased over the period. It rose from 1,623 in 2022-23 to 2,195 in 2023-24 and 2,659 in 2024-25.

Central assistance to Gujarat increased from Rs 4.2 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 29.8 crore in 2023-24, and then to more than Rs 30 crore in 2024-25. Over the three financial years, Gujarat received around Rs 64 crore in central assistance, while 6,477 victims were provided relief, the report said.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.