Statement by India at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group 27^th Session (1-12 May 2017) on Communal violence : 3^rd UPR of India. [Geneva, 4 May 2017]

On the issue of measures taken to deal with communal violence, it is to be stated that the Indian Penal Code itself empowers the State Governments to deal with offenses relating to communal violence. The Communal Harmony Guidelines of the Central government lay down in detail the preventive and administrative measures to be taken to maintain communal harmony.These guidelines categorically emphasize on: 1. identifying and specifying the areas which are prone to communal sensitivities and tensions; 2. visiting them periodically; 3. developing mechanisms for intelligence and information gathering; 4. monitoring the activities of the organizations that could undermine communal harmony; and 5. maintaining a database to study the patterns of communal disturbance with a view to preparing appropriate preventive plans. The Guidelines also lay down the standard operating procedures to deal with situations of communal violence.

2. To further strengthen its response for aiding victims of communal violence, recently the Government has enhanced compensation for such victims of communal violence from Rupees Three Hundred Thousand to Rupees Five Hundred Thousand. This is in addition to directions from courts, especially the Supreme Court, on rehabilitation packages and other responses for aiding victims of communal violence.

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