Web-based tool to monitor atrocities against Dalits, tribals

New Delhi, March 18 (IANS) Claiming that the government has failed to safeguard the interests of the marginalised, National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairperson P.L. Punia on Wednesday called for advancing awareness about a web-based monitoring tool called ATM that tracks atrocities against Dalits and the tribals across India.

Addressing a training workshop to promote the use of Atrocity Tracking and Monitoring (ATM) System, Punia said: "The ATM should be the medium to inform government officials... about cases and crimes against dalits and tribals to ensure effective and immediate action against the perpetrators."

Launched in 2014, the web-based tool registers complaints of violence targeted against dalits and tribals in order to ensure speedy justice.

Once an atrocity is reported, the ATM system works by sending real-time SMS alerts and e-mails to the official concerned.

With the keyword "NCSPOA", anyone can send an SMS to 9898915455, in order to report the atrocity that will be received by the respective state member organisation.

An official at the organisation is then required to facilitate an immediate action for victims/survivors as per the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act).

Organised by the National Dalit Movement for Justice (NDMJ), the two-day North Regional Training workshop on ATM System that began on Wednesday seeks to spread awareness about the effective use of the web-based tool among various stakeholders, including Dalit Human Rights Defenders (DHRDs) from 11 states in north India.

Punia stated that the commission would soon start hearing cases registered on the website and be part of the Lok Adalat organised across the country.

The Rajya Sabha MP pointed out that there was an urgent need for such a unique and advanced website since the government had failed in its duty as a state, said a release by NDMJ.

He also urged the DHRDs to promote the tool at the village and district levels in their respective states and ensure greater participation of the people.

The ATM system, which was partially launched in 2014, has seen a considerable response with more than 100 recent atrocity cases reported and 1200 case studies of atrocities uploaded from different parts of the country, said the statement.