The primary objective of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 is to:

The long title describes the Act as one "to prevent the commission of offences of atrocities against the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes". Abolition of untouchability is the work of Article 17 and the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955. Forest rights are recognised by the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and reservation comes from the Constitution, not from this Act.