The government has strengthened the implementation of the Civil Protection Act and the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act through special courts, victim assistance, awareness, and complaint redressal mechanisms.

The central government recently unveiled a comprehensive policy package, which includes the establishment of special courts, a victim assistance fund, public awareness programmes and a fast grievance redressal mechanism as major components. This initiative has been taken with the aim of ensuring effective implementation of the Civil Protection Act (CPA) and the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act). Special courts will be set up at a subordinate level to the existing High Courts, which will speed up case hearings and enable victims to obtain justice promptly. These courts will include trained judges and social workers, so that decisions can be taken with social sensitivity in mind.

Under victim assistance, the government has established a special fund to provide immediate economic, physical and psychological assistance. Under this fund, victims will be provided financial assistance for medical expenses, rehabilitation, legal representation and restoration. In addition, extensive awareness campaigns will be conducted at state and local levels, targeting schools, colleges, panchayats and workplaces. This campaign will focus on informing citizens about their rights, the complaint process and available assistance, as well as increasing sensitivity against social evils.

The grievance redressal mechanism has been strengthened through a digital platform and a 24×7 call centre, allowing victims to lodge complaints immediately and receive information on progress. State governments have been instructed to integrate this mechanism with local administration to ensure swift action. The goal of all these measures is to make the justice system more transparent, accessible and effective, so that social inequalities can be reduced and all citizens can be assured of equal protection.